Bhandup school gets BMC notice over 'illegal' rooms

The BMC has issued a notice to IES school in Bhandup (East), asking it to demolish the illegal rooms on its premises.

The BMC had issued the notice under section 351 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act on Saturday, asking the school authorities to demolish five illegal rooms within seven days.

“Following complaints from residents about the unauthorised construction, we have verified the documents, inspected the site and issued them a notice, asking them to prove the structures’ legality,” said a senior civic official.

The official added that if they fail to prove that, they will either be asked to restore the premises as per the original plan or demolish the unauthorised construction.

Pramila Pawar, a resident, said civic officials are hand in glove with the school authorities and are delaying action.

“I have sought the information under the RTI Act from the building proposals department; it clearly says that no permission has been given to construct any building on the plot,” she added.

“I filed complaints with the ward office but no action was taken. I had to go to the BMC commissioner to get the ward officials to initiate action.”

School authorities, however, refuted the allegations. “The school has been there for 25 years and was constructed after permission from the executive engineer of the building proposals department. There is no question of any unauthorised construction,” said Satish Nayak, a trustee of the school.

He added that the school submitted its reply to the BMC on Wednesday with attached documents and annexures.