Pimpri Chinchwad: Residents Protest as Developer’s Men Allegedly Threaten Eviction in Annasaheb Magar Nagar
Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Pimpri, 13th February 2025: Residents of Annasaheb Magar Nagar slum in Pimpri-Chinchwad are facing renewed pressure to vacate their homes, despite an ongoing legal battle and a status quo order from the Maharashtra State Government’s Apex Grievance Redressal Committee.
Yesterday, the situation took a troubling turn when individuals, allegedly associated with the developer, entered the slum area and began threatening residents to leave their homes immediately. This aggressive action occurred despite an order by the Grievance Redressal Committee to maintain the status quo on the slum redevelopment scheme until the next hearing.
Ismail Khajahusen Sangam, President of the Annasaheb Magar Nagar Rehabilitation Action Committee, stated, “We don’t oppose redevelopment, but the process has been flawed from the beginning. The developer obtained consent from only a fraction of the residents, and many of those consents are suspected to be fraudulent.”
The Sant Tukaram Nagar Police visited the scene to address the situation, but residents plan to file a formal complaint about the intimidation tactics used. This incident has sparked outrage among the slum dwellers, many of whom gathered to protest the forceful eviction attempts.
The Apex Grievance Redressal Committee of Maharashtra has ordered a status quo on the slum redevelopment scheme in Annasaheb Magar Nagar, Chinchwad, Pune. This decision, made on 22nd March 2024, comes in response to allegations of forced consent and fraudulent inclusion of beneficiaries in the scheme. The committee found prima facie evidence supporting these claims and halted any potential demolition or eviction activities planned by the SRA in Annasaheb Magar Nagar.
