Pune: PMC Commissioner’s Office Furniture Nearly Seized Over Rs 12 Crore Compensation Delay; Civic Body Assures Court of Payment
Reported by Mubarak Ansari
Pune, 3rd August 2026: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) narrowly avoided the seizure of furniture, including the chair in the Municipal Commissioner’s office, after a court ordered attachment over the civic body’s failure to pay compensation to farmers whose land was acquired more than two decades ago for the Uruli Devachi and Fursungi garbage depot.
The proposed seizure was averted after the PMC filed an affidavit before the court, assuring that approximately ₹12 crore in pending compensation would be deposited with the District Collector’s office by August 11.
The details were shared at a press conference by the farmers’ counsel, Advocate Ashok Phadke, who alleged that despite repeated court orders, the civic administration had failed to compensate several landowners for land acquired in 2002 for projects including the Maharashtra State Electricity Board, the Railways, road infrastructure, and the PMC’s garbage depot at Uruli Devachi and Fursungi.
According to Phadke, an award for around 100 acres of land acquired by the PMC was declared in 2005, but many affected farmers are yet to receive compensation.
He further alleged that the civic body acquired land in some cases at rates ranging from ₹70 to ₹3,500 per guntha, prompting farmers to challenge the compensation in court. The court subsequently directed the PMC to pay compensation at the then-prevailing market rate of ₹70,000 to ₹75,000 per guntha. However, the order was allegedly not implemented.
In 2018, relying on a Bombay High Court order, the farmers again approached the Small Causes Court, which also directed the PMC to release the compensation. Phadke alleged that the civic administration continued to delay compliance, citing the filing of an appeal.
Following continued non-compliance, the farmers filed an execution application. Acting on the plea, the Small Causes Court ordered the attachment of the Municipal Commissioner’s office chair and other office furniture.
On Monday, court bailiffs, accompanied by police personnel, arrived at the PMC headquarters to execute the order. However, the Commissioner’s office remained locked. At the same time, officials from the PMC’s legal department approached the court, leading to further proceedings.
Phadke alleged that many farmers whose lands were acquired for various government and civic projects have still not received compensation, leaving several families landless and financially devastated. He held the PMC and other government agencies responsible for the prolonged delay.
Farmers Leelabai Harpale, Harishchandra Harpale, Vinayak Harpale, and Kanta Harpale were present at the press conference.
PMC Assures Court of ₹12 Crore Deposit
PMC Chief Legal Officer Nisha Chavan said the civic body has filed an affidavit before the court, undertaking to deposit approximately ₹12 crore towards compensation for the affected farmers with the District Collector’s office by August 11.
She said the assurance has prevented the proposed attachment of the Commissioner’s office furniture for now.
