BMC conducts major demolition drive in Khar Danda

A major drive to demolish illegal constructions in the Khar Danda area was carried out by the H-west ward on Thursday.

A 150-odd strong team comprising staff from the H-west ward, the H-east ward and the removal of encroachment department of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, along with personnel from the Khar police station, demolished parts of at least eight newly-constructed buildings — ground-plus-one, ground-plus-two and ground-plus-three structures — and made them inhabitable. Three JCBs and two dumpers were pressed into action for the demolition work.

The drive received stiff resistance from 300 to 400 people, including local political leaders. Civic officials present at the spot said the mob indulged in stone-pelting too in which one official received minor injuries.

According to H-west ward officials, several show cause notices were served to the builders. "Work on these structures continued despite that. In the last one year, we carried out several small demolition drives, where we managed to break parts of these buildings. However, they came up again within a few days," said Prashant Sapkale, assistant commissioner of H-west ward.

Sapkale added that notices to 13 private developers under section 52 (read with 43) were issued over the last year.

Another ward official said, "We had also requested the Khar police to see to the externment of 25 developers from the area under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, but they haven't taken any action on them as yet. However, they were very supportive today in terms of maintaining law and order."

Under the Act, the police can exercise preventive detention and hold an accused for up to one year.

The Khar Danda area is notorious for land grabbers, who carry out unauthorised constructions there as a means to usurp the land.