Pune : Inaction over issues, Wagholi residents move to Bombay High Court
Residents of Wagholi, mainly around Neo City, Ivy Estate, Bakori road have in the recent past raised several issues pertaining to road, water supply, power supply and other infrastructure issues. But with cold response from the governing authorities, from Gram Panchayat, Pune Metro Regional Development Authority and now Pune Municipal Corporation, the inaction and apathy shown by these agencies has compelled the residents of Wagholi to move to Bombay High Court for justice and file a PIL.
After regular meetings with local MLA, MP’s, corporators, Municipal Commissioners and several communications from 2014, the residents of Ivy Estate region of Wagholi decided to move to Bombay High Court and challenge the status quo as there is no access road from Pune Nagar road to the society.
The Ivy Estate neighbourhood is currently connected through one narrow unconstructed road which is merely 3 to 4 meter wide.
Even after ten years the road has remained unconstructed, complained the residents. Various builders promised the home buyers that the DP road would come up soon and sold the inventories. The buyers only realised when the things did move any further. The area comprises 25,000 citizens living in over 5000 flats.
“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 the last decade but the road continues to be in shambles even at this time. 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 Hon’ble court to help us get our right to approach roads to our houses.said Nitin Kumar Jain, WHSA Director.
“I am Resident of Ivy Estate Wagholi,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 the past due to no control over traffic, road safety violations etc. Will anyone pay attention now ?, questioned Ashish Deshmukh, Resident, Ivy Estate resident.
“Narrow roads with deep potholes, flex boards at entrance causing blind spots, and motorists driving on the wrong side creates a deadly combination that has resulted in various injuries and deaths,” shared Arijit Chatterjee Treasurer, Ivy Botanica society.
“I have been residing in Ivy Estate since 2018. This project was passed by PMRDA without basic requirements like a 60ft road. Drainage system Drinking water. No staff to clean the roads and maintain greenery in the area. Whole Ivy Estate is an unplanned township. While booking v were assured it would be taken care of but still vr facing the same challenge in 2023. To file this pil 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 bcz 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., stated Manoj Poojari, President, Ivy Estate Federation.
“The only access road to Ivy Estate is completely damaged near Pune-Nagar highway turn as it is not maintained by anyone due to land dispute. Road is inadequate in width, blind spot on the left and has a steep incline to drive which is too risky causing frequent accidents, traffic jams are a daily affair. Conditions are 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,” informed Santosh Krishna, Director, Wagholi Housing Societies Association.
“We, WHSA- Wagholi Housing Societies Association have been following up for the road issues since 2014 to each & every civic authority, local representatives , MP, MLA but no solution has been received till to date. Builder lobby cheated the residents by false commitments so as sanctioning authority like PMRDA.
This nexus between builders & plan sanctioning authorities imposed death penalty to residents. The dumb & 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. The fundamental Right to Life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees full enjoyment of life, which includes the right of enjoyment of proper roads, streets. The Hon’ble Supreme Court has held – Right to life, includes civic amenities like roads etc.
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 & the residents of the IVY Estate region have exhausted all other remedies, they are moving the Bombay High Court to enforce their fundamental rights”
PIL No 2097/2023 – WAGHOLI HOUSING
SOCIETIES ASSOCIATION Vs PUNE MUNICIPAL
CORPORATION THROUGH ITS COMMISSIONER
AND ORS
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