Civic chief wants action taken against 10 illegal constructions in South Mumbai

Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta has asked the DMC Zone – I and DMC (Removal of Encroachments), to take action against ten illegal buildings in various areas of Mohammed Ali Road and at Phophalwadi. dna had reported about illegal structures mushrooming in the island city.

After receiving instructions from the civic chief, BG Pawar, DMC (Removal of Encroachments) has written to the police to provide protection for the demolition crews at the earliest.

Standing Committee members on June 12 demanded an inquiry against the Assistant Commissioners and the officials of the wards involved, who allowed the construction of illegal buildings under the guise of repairs, and also allowed increasing the height of the building without any proper plans or papers.

What caught the civic committee members' attention was the case of a six-storeyed building in Phophalwadi, for which the owner had sought '100 percent repairs permission' from the BMC. The original building was supposed to be three storeys high.

dna had reported about the issue, and provided the details of nine other such buildings in B ward, which were under construction at that point of time. In fact, due to the lackadaisical attitude of the BMC, which took no action, the developers have completed building the structures.

Standing Committee Chairman Yashodhar Phanse, along with the members of the Committee, visited the building, saw all six floors and inspected the quality of the structure. Phanse has demanded that the BMC babus deliver an 'action taken report' on the issue before the next Standing Committee meeting. Officials are now expected to initiate action against the building.

Rais Shaikh, Samajwadi Party Leader in the BMC, and a member of the Standing Committee, had written to the civic chief and asked him to look into the matter.

Over 24 illegal constructions are at present in full swing in the ward. Officials of the Building and Factory and Building Proposals departments are aware of the constructions, and they alert the developers if any action is initiated against them.