Apathy And Inaction On Part Of PMC, PMRDA Compels Wagholi Residents To Move Bombay High Court

Wagholi, 21st January 2023: After several silent protests, signature campaigns, regular meetings with MLAs, Corporators, Municipal Commissioners, various office bearers of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) and after dozens of representations since 2014 by the residents of IVY Estate region of Wagholi, the authorities haven't been able to complete the access road to IVY Estate neighborhood (access from Pune-Ahmednagar Road).

No stone has been left unturned by the residents of the region, to have the incomplete DP road completed, however sans any success! Therefore, left with no other option, Wagholi Housing Societies Association (WHSA) representing the residents of the IVY Estate neighbourhood region of Wagholi has approached the Bombay High Court to challenge the status quo. The IVY Estate neighbourhood is currently connected through only one narrow dangerous unconstructed road which is now barely about 3 to 4 meter wide.

Development Plan (DP) for Wagholi was prepared by PMRDA, Pune Municipal Corporation and is under process of being sanctioned by the Urban Development. The said unconstructed patch The entire connectivity from IVY Estate Neighbourhood is heavily dependent on the proposed DP road, it is remaining in an unconstructed state state even after 10 years struggle by the residents. The access road was promised by various builders and developers, while selling the apartment/flat units. Over 5000 Flats are already constructed and around 25000 residents are living in the Ivy Estate region.

Due to non-construction of the IVY Estate Access Road in Wagholi the residents are suffering on a daily basis. The patch is very hazardous, and several lifethreatening accidents have already taken place. Even after several representations, meetings with the Authorities and Elected representatives by the WHSA office bearers, residents of IVY estate neighborhood, there is complete inaction from the Pune Municipal Corporation, PMRDA and other authorities since past 10 years.

PMC and PMRDA has cited difficulty in acquiring land from private landowners. The PMC & PMRDA has authority to acquire the land for completing the said DP Road. The issue is affecting over 250,000 residents of the region and the residents of Pune at large. The WHSA is challenging such inaction by Pune Municipal Corporation and the PMRDA.

"Ivy road is one of those roads which has remained unconstructed for a decade and more. This is the only approach road of 10000s of citizens today which grew by 1000% in last decade but the road continues to be in shambles even at this time. The only reason is the authority managing Wagholi has been incapable of not only constructing this road but they also shied away to show any bit of compassion and humility towards the pain of citizens on this road. WHSA knocked the doors of Grampanchyat to Zilla Parishad to PMRDA to PMC over the past several years but none of them paid any heed to this legacy problem. WHSA is left with nobody but to approach the court to help us get our right to approach roads to our houses", said Nitin Kumar Jain, WHSA Director.

Ashish Deshmukh, a resident of Ivy Estate, said, "We are facing problems of Unsafe narrow Road, pathetic road traffic ,water shortage, incomplete drainage infrastructure, lack of construction of sanctioned development plan (DP) roads, non-lifting of garbage and slow pace work of garbage processing plant from the past 5 years. We have approached to all concerned authorities like GP, PMRDA, Developer KPDL and locals but due lack of coordination among all of them no permanent solution till today. However, we are paying taxes regularly as a responsible citizen. A year after merger into the PMC limits, we citizens in Wagholi are still waiting for these basic amenities. We are now fed up with all this and have worked hard all our lives to buy our own house but now we feel cheated. We have faced fatal road accidents in past due to no control over traffic, road safety violations etc Will anyone pay attention now?"

"Narrow road with deep potholes, flex boards at entrance causing blind spot, and motorists driving on wrong side creates a deadly combination that has resulted in various injuries and deaths", added Arijit Chatterjee Treasurer of Ivy Botanica society.

"I am residing in Ivy Estate since 2018. This project was passed by PMRDA without basic requirement like 60 ft road. Drainage system Drinking water. No staff to clean the roads and maintain greenery in area. Whole Ivy Estate is unplanned township. While booking we were assured it would be taken care of but still we are facing the same challenge in 2023. To file this PIL we had to collect funds from residents. We have surety in our law system action will be taken on PMRDA officials and KPDL on fast track because lot of accidents and loss of life has happened. This will set an example in Pune to all builders and PMRDA officials without proper basic requirement no project will be passed", said Manoj Poojari, pesident of Ivy Estate Federation.

"The only access road to Ivy Estate is completely damaged near Pune-Ahmednagar highway turn as it is not maintained by anyone due to land dispute. Road is indequate in width, blind spot on the left and has a steep incline to drive which is too risky causing frequent accidents, traffic jams is a daily affair. Condition is even worse for school buses and ambulances. For population close to 25000, to not have a legitimate road only shows negligence and raises serious questions on how the township which is fully completed now was allowed to expand over the years and get permissions from the administration. So we as WHSA have no choice but to fight this out in the right way for our basic demands", said Santosh Krishna, Director of Wagholi Housing Societies Association.

"Wagholi Housing Societies Association have been following up for the road issues since 2014 to each and every civic authority, local representatives, MP, MLA but no solution received till to date. Builder lobby cheated the residents by false commitments to sanctioning authority like PMRDA. This nexus between builders and plan sanctioning authorities imposed 'death penalty' to residents. The dumb and deaf system forced us to approach the High Court for final Justice", said Sanjeev Patil, Director, Wagholi Housing Societies Association.

Speaking on behalf of the petitioner, Satya Muley, Advocate Bombay High Court said "The Builder lobby has shown false dreams, and the local authorities have completely neglected the concerns and basic requirement of an access road of the residents of IVY Estate region. Without proper roads and streets, there is hindrance for the population at large to exploit their full potential of life and as the Wagholi Housing Societies Association and the residents of the IVY Estate region have exhausted all other remedies, they are moving the Bombay High Court to enforce their fundamental rights."

Satya Muley
Satya is a leading Civil & Criminal Law lawyer from Western India.
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