Five years on, RCC structure on Baner Hills still stands despite demolition order

Pune: An allegedly unauthorised RCC (reinforced cement concrete) structure on Baner Hills continues to stand more than five years after Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) issued a demolition notice, prompting renewed concerns from residents and environmental groups about delayed enforcement and potential safety risks.A PMC notice, dated Dec 2020, had ordered the demolition of the structure after officials found an RCC construction on land in survey number 49 — an area reserved as a biodiversity park (BDP). The notice stated that the work had been carried out without civic approval and directed the occupants to remove the structure within 30 days, warning that failure to do so could lead to action under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.
Despite the directive, the structure housing a statue, remains intact. Citizens' collective Save Pune Hills said the issue first came to light during the Covid-19 lockdown, when ground monitoring was limited. Members have repeatedly taken up the matter with authorities since then. Pushkar Kulkarni of Save Pune Hills said residents have been raising the issue for several years and written to multiple authorities. "This encroachment has been happening gradually over the past decade or more, and citizens have repeatedly followed up with various offices seeking action," he said, adding that the group believed the delay reflected gaps in enforcement.Sagar Samel, a resident and group member, said the hill was part of a protected biodiversity zone located above a busy highway. "There are safety and environmental concerns. The structure stands close to a high-traffic road, and people worry about the consequences if it ever collapses," he said, adding that several reminders have been sent to authorities over the years.Residents have also pointed to the ecological importance of the hill, saying such reservations were meant to protect green cover, water aquifers and natural habitats. A PMC official said the matter was now tied to ongoing court proceedings. "The case is before the Bombay high court after the builders of the structure challenged the demolition notice. Since it is sub judice, additional information cannot be disclosed," the official said.Activists have urged the civic body to clarify the status of the case and take steps to address the long-pending issue, saying the delay has raised wider concerns about protection of Pune's hill and biodiversity park zones.