Pune: Days after a political controversy erupted over an alleged illegal religious structure inside Joggers Park in the Shivtejnagar area of Chikhali, the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Wednesday demolished the under-construction building. Civic officials confirmed that the action was carried out in Ward No. 11 under the jurisdiction of the F regional office, where nearly 1,500 square metres of encroached public land was cleared during the demolition drive.
A senior PCMC official stated that the operation was part of the civic body's ongoing campaign against encroachments and unauthorised constructions on public spaces across the city. The issue had escalated into a political controversy after BJP corporator Yogita Nagargoje objected to the construction, asserting that it was an encroachment on public amenity space inside the garden.
The controversy deepened when former mayor and NCP leader Mangala Kadam, who allegedly supported the construction, publicly confronted BJP MLA Mahesh Landge over the matter. Kadam accused Landge of backing Nagargoje's demand for demolition despite having received her political support for over 15 years. A video of the confrontation surfaced on social media, in which Kadam was heard saying that she had worked for Landge for nearly 15 years despite belonging to a rival political party, yet he was supporting a corporator against her. These remarks triggered political discussions in Pimpri Chinchwad, with many interpreting them as exposing internal differences within the NCP.
NCP MP Parth Pawar also reacted to the controversy on social media, calling it the 'bitter truth' of Pimpri Chinchwad politics. Municipal commissioner Vijay Suryawanshi emphasized that the civic body would continue strict action against illegal constructions and encroachments on public spaces. He stated, "Keeping public spaces, gardens and grounds reserved for citizens free from encroachments has been the primary responsibility of the municipal corporation. There would be no compromise against unauthorised constructions and encroachments. Such actions would continue more effectively for planned urban development and citizens' safety."
