MLA Tingre Exposes Pune Municipal Corporation For Unauthorized Construction Racket

Sumit Singh

Pune, 14th December 2023: Allegations of irregularities in the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) actions against unauthorized constructions have surfaced, prompting an investigation into the matter.

NCP leader Sunil Tingre, who is the MLA of Vadgaon Sheri constituency, exposed the alleged corruption during legislative proceedings, claiming that financial exchanges took place between the municipality and complainants of unauthorized construction to evade necessary action.

MLA Tingre brought attention to the lack of regulations for construction on small plots in the 34 villages under the PMC. He highlighted the predicament faced by poor residents who resort to unauthorized constructions on small plots, only to face PMC action after completion.

Tingre asserted that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana aims to provide proper housing for all, the PMC’s actions contradict this goal. He outlined the plight of citizens who, before coming under the municipality, settled in slums and rented houses on small plots in the included villages. Unauthorized constructions on such plots become a necessity for the poor, leading to subsequent PMC action.

The MLA raised concerns about a reported modus operandi wherein complainants of unauthorized constructions demand substantial sums—often in the lakhs— to halt PMC actions. Those who can afford to pay find relief, while the impoverished face dire consequences, losing their life’s savings and ending up on the streets.

In response to Tingre’s revelations, Minister Uday Samant assured a thorough investigation into the matter. He pledged to take appropriate action concerning the regularization of constructions on small plots and in agricultural zones. Minister Samant acknowledged that unauthorized constructions are a violation and insisted on immediate action against such structures, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive inquiry into the actions surrounding specific constructions.

MLA Tingre also highlighted the low participation in the government’s regularization scheme, with only 104 out of the vast number of unauthorized constructions applying for regularization. The associated compound fees, often amounting to lakhs of rupees, pose a significant barrier for those seeking legal recourse.