Pune: Illegal Fish Shops Demolished in Mohammadwadi; Citizens Demand FIR, Expose Alleged Criminal Nexus Over Nullah Encroachment
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Mohammadwadi, 22nd September 2025: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) recently demolished nearly ten illegal fish shops encroaching on a nullah in Mohammadwadi, located just ahead of Lavanya Executive Hotel and near a petrol pump. The action, carried out two days ago, followed years of citizen complaints about traffic congestion, misuse of public land, and environmental degradation along the busy SM Ghule Circle–Kadnagar road corridor.
The dismantled structures, made of iron rods and makeshift materials, were built directly over the nullah, blocking water flow and occupying space meant for stormwater drainage. The site had become a major traffic bottleneck on a key road connecting several high-density residential areas in Pune’s southern corridor.
Residents and civic activists allege that the shops were protected by a criminal-political nexus, allowing the illegal occupation of public land. A Mohammadwadi resident, requesting anonymity, said, “This was not just encroachment; it was an ecosystem of criminalisation of public space. FIRs should be filed, and MCOCA must be invoked against the key operators and their protectors.”
The demolition also uncovered five massive iron hoardings hidden behind the illegal shops, which locals claim are unauthorized. “These hoardings are massive, and there is no evidence of proper permissions or structural audits. Who is earning from them? The PMC must answer,” said a civic activist from NIBM Road.
Experts warn that unauthorized hoardings pose a serious collapse risk, as structural checks are often bypassed through bribes or political influence. A structural engineer familiar with PMC regulations described the situation as “one of the biggest urban scams in Pune.” Environmental planners added that the case exemplifies the “complete criminalisation of nullah space” across the city, where stormwater drains are increasingly taken over by illegal shops, hawkers, hoardings, and even parking lots, exacerbating flood risks.
Citizens have submitted a memorandum demanding immediate FIRs against those behind the illegal market, invocation of MCOCA against repeat offenders, a full audit of hoardings in the area, fencing of the nullah to prevent further encroachment, and transparency regarding rent collections and revenue losses. “This is a parallel economy operating on government property,” said one resident. “Vendors are being charged unofficial rent, advertising revenues are siphoned off, and the public is robbed of clean roads, safe drainage, and regulated traffic.”
Despite growing public outrage, the PMC has not issued any official clarification on how the shops and hoardings were allowed to operate unchecked for years. Attempts to contact local ward officers went unanswered at the time of filing this report.
While the demolition is being hailed as a long-awaited step, residents emphasize that accountability is crucial. With allegations of criminal protection, illegal earnings, and public safety hazards, the case now represents more than just encroachment — it is a test of whether urban governance in Pune can confront entrenched illegality and restore transparency.
