70-year old ex-PMPML bus driver threatens to jump off terrace of three-storeyed building in Taljai-Dhankawadi area when demolition squad come knocking on his door
Driven by the fear of losing his home when approached by the PMC’s anti-encroachment squad yesterday morning, a man threatened to jump off his illegal building in Taljai if attempts were made to raze it.
Mhadba Pasalkar (70), a retired PMPML bus driver became frantic when the police and PMC officials turned up at his building at Survey No 7 at Dhankawadi-Taljai hills.
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Nowhere to go: Madaba Pasalkar threatened to end his life after the PMC’s anti-encroachment dept turned up outside his residence at Taljai Hills yesterday morning. Pic/Krunal Gosavi
The authorities were taken aback when he threatened to jump off his building. Pasalkar said, “I was earning Rs 600 per month 20 years ago when I was an ordinary bus driver. I am not rich, but purchased this land in 1985 when the land costs were meagre. It is sad that our land at Lavasa was taken away for Varasgaon Dam. Where do I go if this house is demolished? I will end my life by jumping from the terrace.”
Jalindar Kasbe, a retired Irrigation Department employee stood with his daughter-in-law Namrata Kasbe and tearfully watched their building at Survey No 7 in Dhankawadi being demolished.
“I purchased this land and started erecting a one-storeyed structure four months ago. We have submitted all the required papers to the PMC and were waiting for the completion certificate. Only this lacuna was pinpointed, our house was razed ruthlessly before our eyes. To raise money for the construction, we sold our earlier house in Satara and also took a loan by mortgaging our gold ornaments,” Jalindar said.
Namrata Kasbe, a civil engineer, said, “I know the rules and regulations and this is absurd as we had received notice on September 28. We had also made an application to get completion certificate on September 29 and verbally requested that the demolition be stopped. We are going to court to get back the Rs 15 lakh that we have spent on the construction so far.”
PMC speaks
Rajendra Raut, Executive Engineer, PMC, said “We are not being selective, but action must been taken as per section 478 of the BPMC Act. We can take legal action or demolish such structures 24 hours after issuing notice. We will not stop the demolition drive after issuing notices. Notices are issued after thoroughly checking each disputed and illegal construction.”u00a0
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