The Pune Minicipal Corporation (PMC) carried out a demolition drive in three places in Kondhwa on Monday against illegal constructions. Two hotels and part of a store were torn down by the government authorities.
While a hotel owner claims to have received the notice one month ago, other two said that they did not receive any notice prior to the demolition drive.
The seating area of a hotel owned jointly by Atik Ansari, Reshma Kazi, and Ashfaq Shiekh was razed around 1 pm on Monday, according to Kazi. The construction was three months old, she said. "No part of the construction was illegal. We don’t even serve alcohol here. They are letting illegal constructions thrive but took our hotel down without notice,” said Reshma Kazi.
While Sandhya Gagare of encroachment and unauthorised construction elimination department at PMC claimed that her department was not involved, Rahul Salunkhe, building permission officer and Sanjay More of the information department remained unavailable for comment after repeated attempts.
An eatery in Kondhwa was also demolished by PMC around 11:30 am, said the owner of the eatery, Vishal Kharabe (32). He had received the notice around a month ago, he said. Kharabe’s business, which was run by his father before him, has been operational since the last 30 years, he claims. The Kharabe family lives on the first floor of the construction. “Two of my children were in the house when they started demolishing parts of the hotel and the house. We have sent our children to our relatives’ place,” said Kharabe.
{{/usCountry}}An eatery in Kondhwa was also demolished by PMC around 11:30 am, said the owner of the eatery, Vishal Kharabe (32). He had received the notice around a month ago, he said. Kharabe’s business, which was run by his father before him, has been operational since the last 30 years, he claims. The Kharabe family lives on the first floor of the construction. “Two of my children were in the house when they started demolishing parts of the hotel and the house. We have sent our children to our relatives’ place,” said Kharabe.
{{/usCountry}}A store, located across the street that runs along the eatery, which served as an extension to a footwear shop, was also demolished. Built 15 years ago, the extension to the 30-year-old shop, is owned by Giddheshwar Kisan Gadre (48). “I did not receive any kind of notice before the demolition. I built an extension in the 5-feet area next to the shop 15 years ago. I agree that two of the five feet area does not belong to me. But why did they destroy it without notice after 15 years,” said Gadre, who also lives on the top floor of his shop.