Pune: The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has begun demolishing illegal commercial buildings located within the blue floodline zones of the Pavana, Mula, and Indrayani rivers.

The action follows a comprehensive survey conducted by the PCMC's encroachment department, which identified numerous violations in these sensitive flood-prone areas.

On Tuesday (September 24), the encroachment department commenced the demolition of 27 unauthorized commercial structures across the jurisdiction of the ‘B’, ‘D’, and ‘E’ regional offices.

This action is part of a broader effort to clear all illegal buildings encroaching upon riverbank areas, which pose environmental and safety hazards during flooding.

In the 'B' regional office zone, six commercial structures were found to be in violation of building regulations and were demolished, covering an area of approximately 5,500 square feet.

The operation was carried out with tight security, involving 20 MSF personnel, and was facilitated by two JCB machines to clear the area.

In the 'D' regional office zone, authorities demolished 11 unauthorized brick structures and sheet sheds, covering a total of 16,000 square feet. The operation saw the participation of regional officers, 3 encroachment superintendents, 8 beat inspectors, 10 police personnel, and 15 laborers, utilizing two JCBs and a tractor for the demolition process.

The 'E' regional office also saw major action, with 10 unauthorized commercial structures being demolished, spanning an area of approximately 16,400 square feet.

This operation was similarly executed with the help of 4 regional officers, 1 encroachment superintendent, 6 beat inspectors, 30 police officers, and 15 laborers, with the use of 2 JCBs.

The PCMC's encroachment department has made it clear that further action will be taken to remove all unauthorized constructions in the floodline areas of these rivers.

These demolitions are being conducted to mitigate the risks of flooding and to ensure that the river areas remain clear and safe during the monsoon season.

PCMC officials have also warned against any new unauthorized construction within the blue floodline zones and emphasized that such violations will be dealt with strictly to avoid environmental degradation and public safety risks.