Pune: Despite spending a substantial ₹7.80 crore annually to deploy 218 Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) personnel, illegal constructions continue to plague Pimpri-Chinchwad.

The personnel were recruited by the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) to assist the Building Permissions and Control Department in cracking down on unauthorized encroachments, but efforts have yet to yield significant results.

The MSF personnel are posted across various departments of the PCMC. Initially, the corporation decided to hire 188 personnel during a general meeting held on August 18, 2021. 

However, the current number of personnel has risen to 218, all of whom are employed under a 12-month contract to assist regional offices in their encroachment removal drives.

Despite the large expenditure on these forces, illegal constructions remain rampant in the region. Unauthorized buildings continue to spring up without permits, especially during times of elections or monsoons.

In these periods, construction activity intensifies, with many structures quickly being completed, painted, and occupied by residents, often avoiding legal action.

According to reports, certain buildings linked to political leaders are not subjected to any penalties or enforcement measures.

Due to frequent unavailability of the police, the MSF personnel have been called in to provide the necessary support during actions against illegal buildings. The PCMC had previously employed home guards to assist, but their effectiveness was limited, prompting the current reliance on MSF personnel.

Even though these security personnel have been appointed to assist with the operations, the regional officers have struggled to make Pimpri-Chinchwad an encroachment-free city. 

The continuous rise in unauthorized structures has raised questions about the effectiveness of the encroachment removal teams, despite the significant investment.