Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) Commissioner Shekhar Singh has temporarily suspended the planned action against residential and commercial constructions located within the blue flood line of the riverbank in Sangvi.
This decision, made following a request from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city president Shankar Jagtap, has brought relief to thousands of residents who feared displacement and property demolition.
The affected areas fall within the blue flood line, a designated high-risk flood zone that regularly experiences flooding during heavy rains.
Every monsoon season, the river overflows, submerging the areas near its banks, and residents are often forced to evacuate.
Due to these recurring floods, the municipal corporation had decided to take anti-encroachment action to prevent potential disasters caused by unauthorized constructions within this vulnerable zone.
A delegation led by BJP city president Shankar Jagtap met with PCMC Commissioner and Administrator Shekhar Singh to discuss the concerns of residents living in the blue flood line area.
The delegation requested an immediate suspension of the action, emphasizing the distress it would cause to thousands of ordinary citizens living in these areas.
Following the discussions, the commissioner responded positively, and the municipal authorities have now suspended the planned demolition and evacuation measures.
The decision has been welcomed by residents across Old Sangvi and other nearby areas, including Pimple Gurav, Rahatani, Pimpri, Kalewadi, and Wakad, all of which are situated within the blue flood line.
These areas are home to thousands of families who were at risk of losing their homes due to the anti-encroachment drive.
Following the decision, the Madhuban Mitra Mandal, along with local citizens, celebrated the reprieve by distributing sweets.