Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) is checking the feasibility of filing cases under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime (MCOCA) Act against frequent unauthorised construction activities of builders. The PMC will send a letter to the police department and seek advice on this issue.
On the backdrop of the wall collapse tragedy, the PMC has found that some developers and people are involved in unauthorised construction activities. In newly merged villages, unauthorised activities are flourishing. The PMC is taking action on such activities despite strong resistance from local residents and builders.
In Kondhwa, the PMC has to take police protection while taking action against unauthorised construction. According to PMC officials, around 30 police complaints were filed for unauthorised construction activities in different parts of the city.
PMC City Engineer Prashant Waghmare said, “Unauthorised construction becomes organised crime of certain people especially in suburban areas. The PMC is taking action.
However, they face strong protests. So we are working to file cases against habitual person or construction firms for unauthorised activities. We will write a letter to the police department to seek their advice for filing case under MOCCA.”
When contacted, Pune Police Commissioner Dr K Venkatesham said, “Let us get the PMC letter and we will act as per the law in the cases.”
The PMC initiated strong action against unauthorised construction after the Taljai incident on September 24, 2012 in which 11 people were killed. After that, the PMC started taking action against unauthorised construction on a large level and frequently.
According to civic officials, residential structures are more compared to commercial ones. The PMC demolishes 50,000 square feet of unauthorised constructions per month.
What is MCOCA?
Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) is a law enacted by Maharashtra State to combat organised crime and terrorism. The preamble to MCOCA says, “The existing legal framework, i.e. the penal and procedural laws and the adjudicatory system, are found to be inadequate to curb or control the menace of organised crime. The government has, therefore, decided to enact a special law with stringent and deterrent provisions including in certain circumstances power to intercept wire, electronic or oral communication to control the menace of organised crime.
