The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has conducted a comprehensive survey of the blue floodline areas across the twin cities, identifying over 2,500 structures. The civic body has already served notices to the owners of more than 50% of these establishments, with plans to initiate a demolition drive against unauthorized constructions. This survey, the first of its kind, focuses on constructions in all blue floodline areas, marking the zones where the highest flood discharge of the river reaches on an average of every 25 years. The survey reveals that most of the structures are located along the Pavana river, with over 60% being residential in nature.
The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has conducted a comprehensive survey of the blue floodline areas across the twin cities, identifying over 2,500 structures in these zones. The civic body has already served notices to the owners of more than 50% of these establishments, with plans to initiate a demolition drive against unauthorized constructions in the near future.
This survey is the first of its kind, focusing on constructions in all blue floodline areas across Pimpri Chinchwad. The blue floodlines on both banks of the river mark the zone where the highest flood discharge of the river reaches on an average of every 25 years.
According to Manoj Lonkar, the deputy municipal commissioner and head of PCMC's anti-encroachment department, a majority of the structures identified in the blue floodline zone are located along the Pavana river, which runs through the heart of the city. This is followed by structures along the Mula and Indrayani rivers. The survey also revealed that over 60% of the unauthorized constructions are residential in nature.
PCMC Commissioner Shekhar Singh had directed civic officials to conduct the survey of all structures in the blue floodline within a week, but the deadline was missed. However, the survey is currently over 80% complete, with the remaining areas expected to be covered soon. The survey was temporarily halted due to the civic teams' involvement in preparations for Ganeshotsav, but it will now resume.
The civic body plans to focus on the demolition drive against commercial structures in the first phase, as residential structures cannot be demolished during the monsoon, as per a high court order. For under-construction and temporary structures, the civic body can carry out demolition within 24 hours after serving a notice, while for fully completed constructions or structures with residents, owners will have to be given a month's notice before initiating demolition.
The remaining areas where the survey is yet to be completed have a dense population, and the number of structures in the blue floodline is likely to increase further, according to a PCMC official.
The civic body is using drone images captured during the recent property assessment survey to cross-verify the ongoing field survey's data and will also match it with the floodline notification of 2009, provided by the irrigation department for the demarcation of floodlines.
PCMC's commitment to addressing this critical issue and its proactive approach, including the use of drone imagery and coordination with the irrigation department, demonstrate a comprehensive strategy to identify and address unauthorized constructions in the flood-prone areas of Pimpri Chinchwad.
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