In a major relief to residents of Chikhli in Maharashtra’s Pune district, the Supreme Court stayed till February 10 the National Green Tribunal’s order to demolish 29 bungalows allegedly built in violation of environmental laws. Residents and the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation have been asked to submit their responses.
‘We had to demolish 29 bungalows on Saturday. But two days ago, the Supreme Court stayed the NGT order and asked us to file a reply. We will file our response in February,” PCMC City Engineer Makarand Nikam told The Indian Express.
The 29 bungalows were reportedly constructed within the blue floodline area, an undeveloped area along the banks of the Indrayani river that flows through the Pimpri-Chinchwad border. Residents argued that they were unaware of the environmental violations.
The NGT ordered the demolition of the bungalows by December 31.
Describing the Supreme Court’s decision as a big relief for the residents, a petitioner, Mahesh Patil, said, “We are very grateful to the Supreme Court for saving our families from being thrown on the streets. If our houses were destroyed, we would have no place to live. Our sweat and hard work built the bungalows. . We saved every penny for a nice place to live.”
Patil said his house was built five years ago. “In the Supreme Court, our lawyers denied all allegations that the project had altered the course of the river or dumped debris into the river that reduced the size of the river. Nothing like that happened. When we invested in the project, we did not know that this area falls within the Blue Line Zone of the river. For any mistake of ours, we should not be punished, otherwise we will go somewhere,” he said.
Another resident Vinay Bhaik said, ‘We fully welcome the demolition. If the Supreme Court had not come or rescued me, I would have been forced to take extreme measures. I don’t think I would have survived. Where do I take my family? I have no other house…’ Bhaik said that he has invested 70 lakh rupees in the project. “From buying land to building a house, I invested all my savings including my PF. I am currently working as a supervisor to support my family. I have no savings,” he said, adding that he was hopeful that the SC would overturn the NGT order in February.
Another petitioner, Vijay Gore, said, “Not only me, but all of us have breathed a sigh of relief. We thank the SC for granting the adjournment order. At the same time, we are all hopeful that the SC will deliver justice.”
Mahesh Patil added, “The allegations leveled against us in the NGT are related to violation of green laws. We have not cut down any trees and we have not dumped any waste in the river. The complainants have made allegations against us. We would have been happy if the NGT bench itself had probed the allegations. Anyway. , we are now looking to the SC to grant us relief.”
Locals said that PCMC has failed to draw a new blue flood line. “Every 25 years, the civic body has to redraw the blue floodline. The last time the PCMC drew a blue flood line was in 1989, but not since then. This year there has been a record rainfall, but the river water has not touched the walls of any of our houses,’ he said.
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