Residents of NIBM Annexe Accuse PMC of Aiding Hawker Syndicate, Demand Police Inquiry

The residents of NIBM Annexe area are irked by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and have raised serious allegations against the PMC Anti-Encroachment Department, accusing a hawker crime syndicate of operating in their locality.

The residents claim that illegal hawking activities are taking place from Backstreet to SM Ghule Chowk.

Residents demand inquiry

Jaymala Dhankikar, a resident of NIBM Annexe area, said, “We reached out to PMC several times complaining about the illegal hawkers operating in our area, but it went unheard most of the time. A few times, they would just visit the site and assure the residents, but they did not take any strict action against them. I wrote a letter to the Chief Minister of Maharashtra to address the issue. I mentioned that the hawker mafia operates with impunity, endangering our safety and encroaching upon public spaces. Instead of addressing the issue, the department seems to be aiding the illegal activities.”

“In the letter, we have demanded a police investigation into the corruption and negligence by PMC officials. We want the arrest of involved officials and the removal of unauthorized hawkers to restore order in the area,” added Dhankikar.

Ashok Mehendale, a resident, said, “We have tried to resolve this matter through official channels, but the lack of response indicates a deeper problem. We now demand a thorough investigation and appropriate action. The entire stretch, starting from Backstreet to SM Ghule Chowk in the NIBM Annex area, is filled with hawkers operating illegally. We demand a thorough police inquiry into the alleged nexus between the PMC’s Anti-Encroachment Department and the hawker syndicate. Recently, we have shared the letter with the encroachment inspector of the Hadapsar Ward office, and a copy of the same has been sent to the Ward Commissioner, with signatures from six hundred residents of this area.”

Ravi Khandare, encroachment inspector, Hadapsar Ward office, PMC, said, “We take encroachment actions on Tuesdays and Fridays, and from today, we will be starting the encroachment drive in the area. We also collect fines starting from Rs 5,000, depending on the area encroached and other factors. The drive is conducted jointly with the other three ward offices, including Kondhwa, Wanawadi, and Hadapsar. We have instructed the staff to take action. Earlier, we had taken action, but we have some rules in place according to which we can’t seize the stalls and handcarts. After collecting the fine, we give them back their carts, and they tend to come back again. But this time, we will ensure that they don’t encroach again.”