An illegal building is being demolished
For a typical 1,000 sq ft illegal construction, the estimated demolition charge levied by PMC comes to around Rs 1 lakh.
Pune: Developers involved in illegal construction will have to pay extra property tax as a penalty, said Pravin Shende, a senior official of the building permission department of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). The claims of adding more tax in the name of defaulters will prove to be an eyewash if the recovery is not made,” said Vivek Velankar of Sajag Nagrik Manch, a citizens’ group. PMC spends money on manpower as well as machinery for demolition. This includes workers and heavy vehicles such as earthmovers and jaw cutters. Rent, fuel expenses, and daily wages for workers are paid by PMC while carrying out the operations. Fees for police protection are also paid when conducting demolition drives. Experts and activists point out that illegal construction is driven by a combination of key factors. The influx of people into urban areas creates a massive demand for affordable housing, while soaring land costs compel buyers to turn to cheap, unapproved buildings. Opportunistic developers take advantage of these circumstances to maximise profits. On top of this, lax oversight by local administration and rural civic bodies like gram panchayats and PMC, coupled with political interference, hinders swift action against unauthorised developments. “The administration is finding it tough to recover the actual property tax dues.