The Indian Express 10.12.2013
BMC pulls down 400 illegal structures in Charkop
Nearly 400 illegal structures within 50 metres of mangroves were
demolished Monday in Charkop’s sectors 1 and 2. The BMC, as per
directives of the revenue and forest department, is carrying out a
two-day drive to remove illegal structures.
The demolitions were done as per a government resolution (GR)
issued in accordance with a Bombay High Court order in 2005 that
prohibited any construction within 50 metres of the mangroves, said BMC
officials.
“There is no question of issuing notices in this case. On Sunday,
we also provided locals with a chance to show proof that they have
appropriate permission to build their structures, when we convened a
meeting with officials in charge of the demolition. No one had any
proof,” said Vishwas Mote, assistant municipal commissioner (R South).
Around 50 BMC labourers used five JCB machines and five dumpers
to carry out the demolition. A range forest officer, tehsildar
(encroachment removal) and assistant municipal commissioner (R South)
supervised the demolition. Deputy Commissioner of Police Mahesh Patil
(Zone 11) and Deputy Municipal Commissioner BR Marathe were also
present.
A Buddha idol housed inside an illegal structure caused a few
tense moments during the demolition drive on Monday. Local women
reportedly asked the BMC to let the structure remain. However, the
officials managed to convince them that the structure was illegal and
had to be removed. “We respectfully took possession of the idol and
removed the structure,” said Marathe.
Around 200 police personnel were deployed for crowd control. In
the past three days, five locals were arrested under Maharashtra
Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966 for construction in the mangrove
area withoutpermission. “To ensure there are no problems, we detained
six persons under sections 151 of CrPC before the demolition. During the
demolition, we detained another six under sections 68 and 69 of CrPC,”
said Patil.
