PCMC will demolish 36 illegal bungalows built in Indrayani River’s floodplain on May 17, following Supreme Court orders. A ₹5 crore environmental fine has also been imposed on the violators.
Anshu Kashid
Pune | May 16, 2025: In a significant move to reclaim the natural course of the Indrayani River, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) will on Saturday, May 17, demolish 36 bungalows illegally constructed in the river’s blue flood zone at Chikhali. This action comes after a decisive Supreme Court ruling, which upheld an earlier National Green Tribunal (NGT) order mandating the removal of these structures.
In order to be removed by the PCMC’s Encroachment Department, the demolition drive comes after years of legal battles. Led by Justices Abhay S. Oka and Ujjal Bhuyan, the top court firmly turned down resident appeals citing extensive flouting of environmental laws and conservation tenets.
Found to be built exactly within the forbidden floodplain of the Indrayani River, the bungalows, part of a now-controversial residential project created by Jare World and associates under Survey No. 90 in Chikhali, were discovered to This not only disobeyed the Environmental Protection Act but also jeopardized the ecological condition of the river.
Besides demolition, the city government penalized builders and residents ₹5 crore for causing environmental loss. The court also rejected the efforts by homeowners to obtain redress by modified petitions.
PCMC Deputy Commissioner Manoj Lonkar has instructed residents to vacate the premises ahead of the demolition. He confirmed that all preparations have been finalized for the large-scale operation, which is expected to send a strong message against illegal encroachments on environmentally sensitive land.
“The court has made it clear—rivers and their flood zones are not for construction. We are acting strictly as per orders to ensure nature gets its space back,” said Lonkar.
The demolition will not only enforce legal compliance but also pave the way for ecological restoration of the Indrayani River, which has been under pressure from rapid urban encroachment.
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