PCB gripping with the menace of illegal constructions – RTI reply
4 May, 2013An application was filed with the Pune Cantonment Board (PCB) under the Right to Information (RTI) Act seeking to know the details of the illegal constructions within the jurisdictional area of PCB and the action taken therefor.
The reply from the PCB states that the total number of illegal constructions was 1,074 in 2008 but in the past five years 224 new illegal constructions have come up in the area. The reply also states that PCB has served notices to all these illegal constructions under Section 248 of the Cantonments Act 2006 but no other action including demolition has taken place. The reply states that the appeals against the demolition notices lie with Principal Director Defence Estates (PDDE) which looks for cases from 19 cantonment boards. This makes the disposal of these appeals quite a lengthy process which in turn stalls the original demolition work.
The RTI applicant, however, has alleged that the seals put on such constructions by the PCB are removed and the construction activities continue despite the notices.