Only 16,000 of 2.3L illegal structures demolished by govt

The neighbouring Thane district is mushrooming with illegal structures and the state government is now in “protection mode”. In an affidavit filed on Wednesday, the state informed the Bombay high court that there are over 2.3 lakh illegal structures in Thane district and since 2003 the government has demolished only 16,000.

There are 2,36,462 illegal structures in Thane. Kalwa tops the list with 75,000 structures, followed by Mumbra (41,671), the affidavit filed by deputy commissioner of Thane said.

The court was hearing a PIL filed by Harit Vasai Sanrakshan Samiti seeking demolition of illegal construction in Thane, especially in Vasai-Virar belt. The high court had extended the scope of the PIL to the entire Thane district.

Additional government pleader SR Nargolkar informed the court that they are coming up with special laws to prevent illegal construction.