Pune: Yet another hill behind plush Mahatma Housing Society in Kothrud is breathing its last. According to residents, for past few months, the area has been turned into a dumping ground by private builders. Instead of taking strong action against the miscreants to stop damage to the environment, PMC officials are busy finding out if this area falls under their jurisdiction and said they would be able to take action only by Monday.
After the information was shared by an alert citizen, Sakal Times visited the spot to find many trucks transporting debris uphill and unloading the material wherever space is available. The once empty spots on the open ground uphill are now covered with heaps of construction material.
When Sakal Times contacted Jayant Bhosekar, Assistant Commissioner and ward number 10 of Kothurd-Bavdhan ward office, he claimed ignorance and said he got to know about this activity only on Friday. Bhosekar said, “I have communicated with Building Permission Department and they have assured me that this will be stopped immediately.”
When contacted Amar Shinde, Executive Engineer of Building Permission Department said, “We don’t know if this area is under our jurisdiction or under forest department. It is possible this may be private land. Whatever is the case, we will find out by Monday and visit the spot.”
Dilip Patil, PMC corporator from ward number 10 claimed he was not aware of this issue. At the same time, he said the area where the debris is being unloaded is PMC land.
Mahesh Panhale, Chairman of Mahatma Society told Sakal Times, “Since last one month, I am hearing the weird noise of trucks going uphill and unloading big boulders and other construction material. On my visit to the hill on Friday, I found the small foot trail going uphill is covered with debris.”
During the spot visit, when Sakal Times spoke to a truck driver, he said some private builders had instructed him to unload the construction material on the hill. He added that they approach the hill from the highway to avoid objections from residents of this housing society.
A few residents, on condition of anonymity, said this activity is going on for last one month.
