Pune: During the coronavirus lockdown when the city areas have been sealed to contain the spread of the virus, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has issued notices to the owners and tenants of dilapidated Wadas and has appealed to them to vacate the premises before the monsoon to avoid any untoward incident.
The PMC Building Permission, Development and Control Department has issued notices to 225 Wada owners. Superintendent Engineer Rajendra Raut said, “Every year before the monsoon begins, PMC surveys the dangerous structures, which are mainly old buildings in the city. It has identified 225 dilapidated structures this year and has issued notices to their owners. We also issue a public notice in April and May to alert them to vacate dilapidated structures or repair buildings so that they can avoid any untoward incident during the monsoon.”
Raut said, “I know that during the lockdown, there is a restriction on movements. However, we can permit to repair or vacant places if it is necessary after checking the condition of structures. We ought to intimate residents of any upcoming untoward incident.”
Many Wada residents are not ready to leave as they are worried that if they vacate the place, they might lose the right on the land. Though, PMC has assured them that such a situation won’t arise as it maintains a record of tenants. They issue certificates to residents to keep their claims on the property as per the State government order issued in 2015.
Every year, the civic body issues notice to owners of dilapidated old Wadas. The Peth areas, including Somwar Peth, Mangalwar Peth, Budhwar Peth, Guruwar Peth, Shukrawar Peth, Shaniwar Peth, Ravivar Peth, Sadashiv Peth, Narayan Peth, Rasta Peth, Gunj, Ghorpadi, and Bhavani Peth, have maximum Wadas.
Murlidhar Deshpande, owner of Deshpande Wada in Kasba Peth, said, “How is it possible for tenants to vacate houses or owners to repair dilapidated structures during the lockdown? PMC is performing its duty by issuing the public notice as usual ahead of the monsoon.”
Kumar Patil, a tenant of a Wada located in Budhwar Peth, said, “PMC issues notice to dismantle the structure. During the COVID-19 outbreak, it is challenging to shift or repair structures. PMC is aware of the situation. Now, it is issuing the public notice for the sake of the record so that if anything happens, they can easily blame tenants saying they had already sent notices to them.”
