PMC starts demolition of Bhide Wada

The Bombay High Court recently ruled in favour of the PMC in a case related to Bhide Wada property where the civic body and state government plan to build a national memorial

Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) late Monday night began razing the premises of Bhide Wada following refusal by residents and traders to vacate the historic site to build the national memorial where the first girls’ school was started by social reformers Mahatma Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule.

Land owners and tenants had approached the Supreme Court, which also refused to offer them any respite. (HT FILE PHOTO)

Huge police force and municipal staff gathered at Bhide Wada, located in front of Dagdusheth Ganpati Temple, late in the evening. Till the time of going to press, the civic body had started preparations to bring down the dilapidated structure.

To avoid opposition, PMC and police blocked the road from both sides.

Even after the Supreme Court and High Court cleared the way for the acquisition of Bhide Wada property, obstacles continued for PMC. Traders opposed handing over the ownership of the property and refused to speak to civic officials who visited the site on Monday afternoon.

The traders, including landowners and tenants, were absent at the spot and sought more time, said officials.

The Bombay High Court recently ruled in favour of PMC in a case related to Bhide Wada property where the civic body and the state government plan to build a national memorial.

The landowners and tenants approached the Supreme Court, which also refused to offer them any respite.

The locals of Bhide Wada were given a deadline of December 3 to vacate the premises. Despite the court’s decision, residents and businessmen have again contested the judgment, and have filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking an extension of the deadline.

Some of the traders said that they were not against building the memorial, but wanted an alternate place at the same location.

A civic official requesting anonymity said, “As the deadline given by the court ended, now there is no option left rather than acquiring it forcefully. We would brief the district collector about the ground situation and later act as per the instructions received from senior officials.”