Pune: Tribal Family Left Homeless After PMAY House Demolition at Sinhagad
Khadakwasla, 16th June 2025: A tribal family residing at the historic Sinhagad Fort has been rendered homeless after authorities from the Archaeological and Forest Departments demolished their only concrete home on May 29, during an anti-encroachment drive. The structure, allegedly built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY), was razed amid heavy rains, triggering outrage over insensitivity and alleged procedural lapses.
The operation, carried out between May 29 and June 4, involved dismantling multiple Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) homes as part of a heritage conservation effort. Officials claimed the demolitions were in line with heritage protection norms, but 37-year-old Savita Gaikwad, a member of the Adivasi Mahadev Koli community, said she was never properly notified.
“We have lived here for seven generations. Our ancestors served as guards under the Maratha Empire. In 2016, with assistance from PMAY, we built our first concrete house. It was marked on the wall, yet no officials verified the documents. Now we are homeless, with all our belongings damaged by rain,” said a visibly distressed Gaikwad.
Survival for the Gaikwad family depends on selling refreshments like nimbu-pani to visiting tourists. With their home gone and no alternate shelter provided, the family now takes refuge under plastic sheets amid the ongoing monsoon.
Savita’s husband, Sanjay Dattatray Gaikwad, added, “We received just ₹1.2 lakh under the scheme and took loans amounting to ₹5 lakh to complete the house. It was our only shelter. My wife hasn’t stopped crying; her eyes are swollen from sleeping in the open.”
Despite the family’s assertion that their home was constructed under PMAY, officials dispute this claim. Vilas Wahane, Assistant Director of the Pune Division Archaeological Department, stated, “The Gaikwads did not obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC), which is why their house was demolished. Also, the house was built under a different scheme, not PMAY. That said, we will consult with the district collector to explore the possibility of providing them with an alternate shelter near the fort.” However, photographs of the home before demolition display PMAY markings, casting doubt on the administration’s claims.
Local MLA Bhimrao Tapkir condemned the action, calling it “inhuman and unjust.” Tapkir said, “Demolishing a PMAY-registered home without verifying documents is unacceptable. Financial assistance under the scheme is only granted after proper checks. I will raise this matter with the Pune Collector and demand accountability from those responsible.”
