India, May 19 -- The Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has initiated a suo motu inquiry against civic staff allegedly involved in facilitating illegal construction of 36 bungalows within the blue flood line of the Indrayani River in Chikhali, officials confirmed.

On Saturday, PCMC demolished 36 unauthorised bungalows-part of the 'River Villa' project-constructed within the blue flood line, a protected area where no development is permitted. The demolition, covering 63,970 square feet (7,245 square metre), was carried out following Supreme Court (SC) orders.

However, the civic body has come under fire from residents who questioned why it allowed the illegal construction to go unchecked for years in the first place. In respons...