Thane Municipal Corporation to hold public hearing for demolition of illegal structures

The Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has organised a public hearing on February 21 to seek opinion on whether to take action against alleged illegal structures in Shrinanagar. 

Until now, the civic body had never batted an eyelid before demolishing illegal structures in the city. In lieu of the new approach, the Maharashtra government's urban development department has sought an explanation from the TMC over its sudden `democratic’ endeavour.

In 2017, the TMC demolished 4000 structures to pave way for its ambitious road widening project across the city. But the public hearing on Wednesday will be held to deliberate on the demolition of an unauthorised parking lot, a local politician’s office, illegal construction in a bungalow and a wedding hall in Shrinagar. 

Residents have raised objections to this sudden bout of the democratic attitude of the civic body. 

“Why this duplicity of action when it comes to the high and the mighty while the case of the poor are neglected?," asked advocate V S Lakshmanan.

Corporator Gurmukh Singh of Ward 16 has also raised questions about the action. 

Sunil Chavan, the additional municipal commissioner of TMC, said that the move comes after an activists' pursuance on the matter. 

“In the said area, there are no marriage halls or parking lots. If we shut them where will the public go?" he added.

SUDDEN MOVE

The TMC is known for its ruthless crackdown on illegal buildings in the city. The sudden democratic approach to hold a public hearing is receiving a lot of flak from residents.