Pune Beat

Civic squad chief G S Waghchaure said that the sanstha had erected a huge tin shed structure, admeasuring 4,800 sq feet, in the rare margin and two tin shed structures, admeasuring 150 sq feet in the side margins besides some pucca structures.

The civic squad, comprising 121 bigaris led by S L Ghume, struck at the hall this morning. No sooner the action was initiated, a group of local residents led by former standing committee chairman Aba Bagul rushed to the spot and gheraoed the civic employees.

Bagul argued that the hall was used for social activities and hence should not be pulled down. He also sought to know why a fresh notice was not served by the PMC. Ghume pointed out to the corporator that the structures were illegal and the PMC was empowered to take action against them at any time after the notice was served. Ghume demanded that Bagul should not intervene in the matter and requested him to pacify the local residents. It was then that Bagul and the local residents withdrew their protest and the civic squad went ahead with the drive.

During the day-long drive, the civic squad also pulled down the illegal structures in the front margins of three shops, admeasuring 575 sq feet, in the nearby Aranyeshwar area.