Fine, jail for BMC over illegal structures

Taking serious note of the rampant illegal encroachments in the city, the state has decided to come down heavily on civic officials.

Ward officers will now face imprisonment of three months or fine of Rs20,000 if encroachments are found in their area.

The state assembly on Friday ratified the amendment to the three municipal corporation acts that govern the civic bodies across the state.

The amendment offers power to the civic commissioner to designate an officer of the rank of deputy commissioner or the assistant commissioner to curb encroachments.

The existing acts, including the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, had only one provision to deal with encroachment and illegal constructions against the official concerned. This had led to large-scale encroachment in Mumbai, Nagpur and Pune.

Minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir said with the amendment, the government would now be able to act touch against encroachments. "The official, if arrested even for one day, will lose his job," he said explaining that civic officials will now be made accountable for all encroachments.  

Chief minister Ashok Chavan had, earlier this month, announced that officials abetting encroachments on government land would face criminal action, adding that onus of an encroachment-free state lay with officials concerned and criminal action would be taken against them if found not doing their job.