Pimpri: While Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is trying hard to make the city open deification-free by providing individual, community and public toilets for the citizens, a public toilet having 26 seats in Nehru Nagar has been demolished by unidentified persons.
Although PCMC has lodged a complaint against unidentified persons, locals alleged that former mayor and sitting NCP corporator Vaishali Ghodekar is responsible for demotion of the public toilet.
When asked about the allegation, Ghodekar said that the toilet was constructed on her land. “I was fighting the case with PCMC, but I do not have any role in demolition of the public toilet,” she said.
However, after demolition she has claimed the title of the plot. On the midnight of July 8, the structure was demolished using heavy machinery. PCMC Ward Officer Anna Bodade lodged a complaint against unidentified persons for the demolition.
But, due to reasons best known to the officials of PCMC, authorities failed to take possession of the land on which a two-storey public toilet existed. Although PCMC is claiming that the structure belonged to them, it is not able to take possession of the land.
When asked about the issue, PCMC Commissioner Shravan Hardikar said, “We have lodged a complaint against unidentified persons, but I am not aware that someone has taken possession of the land. I will get information about the case and take appropriate action about the same.”
Ghodekar had filed a case in the civil court claiming title of the land. While the case is pending with the court, the demolition has already taken place.
When asked about the issue, Ghodekar said, “The land on which the toilet was constructed is ours. But, I have nothing to do with the demolition of the public toilet. Since the structure does not exist now, we have taken possession of the plot.”
When asked when the land belonged to her, how PCMC could construct a two-storey building, Ghodekar said, “PCMC authorities could respond to this query properly. Locals said if someone is claiming the title of the property, he or she must have filed a case in court and established rights to the property. This is not the right way to demolish construction overnight. No other person has any interest in demotion of public toilet other than the person who is claiming the title of the land. So if PCMC is serious about any action, the person who is claiming title of the land must be questioned for the demolition.
Ghodekar said, “The toilet was not being used by locals as most of the people in the area are having their own toilets at home. For last-one- and-a-half-year, operator of the toilet has abandoned the toilet. Also, once an incident of molestation had taken place in the toilet and the case had been registered about this in Pimpri police station.”