In an unprecedented move, officials from Katargam municipal zone turned
their attention to the illegal construction by diamond manufacturing
units on Thursday and demolished around 900 square feet of illegal
construction at two such units at Nandu Doshi Ni Wadi to send a strong
message to the diamantaires.

The diamond hub in Varachha,
Katargam and Mahidharpura houses more than 3,500 diamond cutting and
polishing units. However, the maximum concentration is in Varachha and
Katargam where illegal construction has increased in the past couple of
years, especially in the units belonging to the small and medium
diamantaires, with the increase in manufacturing capacity and the
installation of cutting and polishing tools and equipments.

Official sources said the municipal zones in Varachha and Katargam have
started a campaign to remove unauthorized construction after the impact
fee law was implemented across the state.

Officials said there
have been many industrial and residential premises where unauthorized
construction has taken place even after the cut-off date for
regularization of unauthorized structures. They said such structures
will not be regularized under any circumstances.

“We have been
surveying the industrial areas where the diamond units are located. On
Thursday, we found two units at Nandu Doshi Ni Wadi with illegal
construction against the approved building plans. We demolished them and
collected a fine of Rs 1 lakh,” executive engineer, Katargam municipal
zone, R C Jariwala said.