Pune: PCMC Resumes Anti-Encroachment Drive in Chikhali Amid Heavy Police Presence, Mobile Network Disruptions

Reported By Varad Bhatkhande
Chikhali, 8th February 2025: After encroachment action by Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) in the Chikhali area was put on hold last time due to massive public outrage, the action has begun again today, with heavy police personnel deployed to handle potential repeat incidents. Reports also suggest that internet services and mobile networks have been disrupted to prevent organized protests by local businessmen and residents.

Since the start of this year, PCMC administration has served notices to almost 5,000 establishments for encroachment. The Chikhali-Kudalwadi area has been notorious for illegal establishments, with frequent major fire incidents sometimes resulting in fatalities. Minor fire incidents are also very common. A major reason for this is unauthorized establishments running businesses, encroachments, and lack of proper approvals and certifications from local civic bodies.

As the notice period had expired, PCMC initiated an anti-encroachment drive on January 30. However, the action faced significant backlash from local residents and businesses, who began protesting. Deputy Commissioner of PCMC, Manoj Lonkar, led the operation alongside senior police officials, including Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 3) Dr Shivaji Pawar, to manage the situation. At that time, PCMC, although reluctantly, decided to put the action on hold.

The encroachment issue, not limited to this area but prevalent throughout the city, has become a nuisance. PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh stated that encroachment action in this area started last year, and a broader action plan will be implemented with Chikhali-Kudalwadi as its starting point.

Singh elaborated, “Since last year, we have been demolishing encroachments in the Chikhali-Kudalwadi area. This area has a large number of illegal scrap shops, godowns, and industrial units. These contribute significantly to the high AQI in Pimpri Chinchwad city and are a major source of pollution in the Indrayani River. Every year, we see 10-12 major fire incidents in this area because these establishments lack proper approvals. We issued notices to them 1.5 months ago. Today, we have begun taking action in close coordination with the Pimpri Chinchwad Police Commissionerate (PCPC) and Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC). While PCMC has started the encroachment removal from the Chikhali-Kudalwadi area, we will extend this action to the entire city.”

Chikhali Kudalwadi Residents Report Internet Blackout
In a surprising move, unusual for Maharashtra, internet services have reportedly been disabled, according to citizens who spoke to Punekar News. While it’s not confirmed whether this is an action by PCMC, residents in the Chikhali and Kudalwadi areas have reported no internet connection or signal availability since the operation began. Some have reported that calling and other network services are functioning, but internet connections are down. A response from PCMC and Police officials is awaited as of now.

Sanjivan Sangale, Chairman of the Chikhali-Moshi-Pimpri Chinchwad City Housing Society Federation, told Punekar News, “The problem in the Kudalwadi area has existed for over 10 years. Our struggle to resolve this issue has been ongoing. We raised our concerns with several local civic bodies and politicians, but they went unheard. Then, Bhosari MLA Mahesh Landge took notice of the issue and brought it up in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Following that, PCMC took action. Internet services were disrupted, and police were deployed from early morning today. Last time, protests took place, but our federation and local residents supported this move—we were not part of the protests. We thank PCMC and MLA Landge for taking this much-needed action.”