The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) started an anti-encroachment drive to shift the residents living along the banks of a water stream in the city on Thursday. However, the drive received stiff opposition from the locals.
The drive was launched at Ambil Odha, a water stream in Sinhagad Road area. However, the residents living along it alleged that no intimation was given to them before the drive.
"The action was initiated on Thursday morning without any prior notice. They should have given us a notice in advance and made alternative arrangements before directly coming and vacating the premises," said an angry resident.
Avinash Sakpal, PMC''s zonal commissioner, said that in order to avoid rain water from the Ambil Odha to gush into the dwelling, PMC has taken a decision to undertake the work of straightening the nullah.
Sakpal said that it has been three to four months that notices were issued to the local residents. A public notice about this drive was also published in a newspaper. "There is no question of making all these people homeless as we are giving all 130 residents flats in nearby areas," Sakpal added.