Pune, July 8: With the growing number of redevelopment projects across Pune, numerous old wadas, bungalows, and dilapidated buildings are being demolished. However, the absence of a structured policy to regulate these demolitions has raised serious safety and health concerns among residents.
In response, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) has submitted a formal memorandum to Municipal Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, urging the immediate creation of a dedicated policy for demolition activities under redevelopment. The PMC has responded positively, indicating plans to draft such a policy soon.
Led by MNS State General Secretary Hemant Sambhus, the party’s delegation emphasized that in areas like Kothrud, Parvati, and Shivajinagar, old structures are being razed rapidly without proper technical safety assessments.
This has resulted in neighbouring buildings developing cracks, increased dust pollution, and road safety hazards due to the transport of debris through narrow internal streets. The delegation stressed that unregulated demolition poses a risk not just to infrastructure but to public health and safety.
The MNS highlighted additional issues, including alleged pressure on builders from criminal and political groups to gain access to scrap materials from demolition sites. To mitigate these risks, the party demanded strict measures, mandatory No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board and Traffic Police, advance notice of at least seven days to local residents, employment of certified demolition agencies, dust control systems, and mandatory deployment of PMC supervisors at all demolition sites.
Several MNS office bearers including Pravin Zhende, Yash Warwatkar, Ashok Gaware, Prashant Bholagir, Hanumant Mohite, Anil Kandhare, Mahesh Shirke, Kedar Kodolikar, and Rahul Wankhede were present while submitting the memorandum. They asserted that until a robust demolition policy is enacted, redevelopment work would continue to pose environmental, logistical, and civic threats across the city.
PMC Chief Engineer Prashant Waghmare, who was also present at the meeting, acknowledged the validity of the MNS's concerns. He said, “Currently, no formal demolition guidelines exist in the state for redevelopment projects. The suggestion is a valuable one, and the PMC will soon undertake a thorough study and formulate a detailed policy to regulate and oversee demolition practices in the city.”