Rs 56 L fine slapped on builder for Katraj hill violations

District administration says builder excavated 20 times more than permitted; 7 more projects under scanner

Rs 56 L fine slapped on builder for Katraj hill violations

District administration says builder excavated 20 times more than permitted; 7 more projects under scanner

Stop that: Digging work for a road on the hill above the new Katraj
tunnel has been stopped after the district administration stepped in
and sent a notice to the party concerned. Pic/Jignesh Mistry

Kisanrao Dhavji Rathod was the builder slapped with the fine after he was found to have excavated over 5,000 brass more than the permitted 250 brass.

Dangerous activity
The illegal activity of the builder was posing a threat to the power station of tunnels as well as making the hill area prone to landslides, stated officials. Rathod's housing project is under construction near the old Katraj tunnel. Action against Rathod was taken after District Collector Vikas Deshmukh instructed Tehsildar Sachin Ithape of Bhor taluka to act against errant builders.

"Besides Rathod's project, seven other projects, including one that has links with a political leader, are under the scanner of district officials," Ithape said. "The illegal activities being carried out on the hills around Pune are posing a grave threat to the tunnels and the power station supplying electricity to equipment inside the tunnel, while making the area prone to landslides. Road widening and rainwater drainage is also affected by the illegal excavation."

The state highway administration had been informed about the damage, said the tehsildar. "Rathod was granted permission to excavate 250 brass by the Additional District Collector on January 1. Accordingly, he had paid a royalty of Rs 56,303 in the District Collector's Office.

The Public Works Department carried out a survey on March 15, wherein it was noticed that Rathod had actually excavated 5,143 brass more than the permitted quota," Ithape said. "After calculating the damage done by Rathod's illegal activities, the penalty amount was decided. Rathod has been instructed to pay the fine within 15 days, failing which a criminal case can be lodged against him."

Crackdown
Deshmukh said the administration was cracking down hard on all unauthorised building activity near the Katraj tunnels."A total stop has been ordered on unauthorised construction in the areas adjoining the tunnels. Come what may, I will not allow the illegal work to continue," Deshmukh said.

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