PMC decided to increase illegal building demolition charges by 5 times.

By Abhay Shah, Realty Quarter

The civic body has decided to increase by five times the demolition charges recovered from owners of illegal buildings. Previously, the charges for demolishing an illegal construction of about 1,000 sqft were Rs20,000. The amended charges will be around Rs1 lakh.

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) officials said the demolition work in the past did not have a particular rate card. “Workers demolishing unauthorized buildings have been paid on an hourly basis. The money spent on the work has been recovered from the owners of the illegal properties,” said an official.

The amounts would also differ, depending on the structures labour charges and area. “There would also be separate fees placed on the holders of such structures,” he said. PMC officials said the department for anti-encroachment had failed in the past to recover these charges. The sources admitted that how the new scheme would go about recovering the demolition charges was still unclear.

In addition to the standalone structures and properties, the Civic Administration has taken intervention in areas such as Ahmednagar Road, Kothrud and Satara Road against encroachments in shopping malls. The municipal body would pay around Rs20 per sqft, according to the old rate, to demolish all kinds of constructions. After the rate revision, the demolition charges for concrete structures will be Rs100 per sqft and temporary sheds will be Rs50 per sqft.

“We hope the new rates will assist us to boost and streamline the demolition charge collection. It can bring to the coffer of the municipal body around Rs2 crore every year,” said a senior PMC representative. Despite repeated attempts, Madhav Jagtap, head of the PMC’s anti-encroachment department, could not be contacted.

Civic activists welcomed the move done by the PMC to raise the demolition charges but looked uncertain about its execution. “Owners of all illegal buildings should be heavily charged. The PMC’s step is a good one, but it won’t be efficient unless the illegal buildings are recognized and demolished,” said Vishwas Sahastrabuddhe of the citizens’ group Sajag Nagrik Manch.