Of the 77 houses in the area, the BMC
had issued notices to 51 for illegal encroachments in the mandatory
open space. The owners had put up roofs and converted the open spaces
into rooms, toilets, kitchens and sitting areas. While BMC officials
removed the roofs and dismantled the extra frames, they said some
house-owners were given two days to remove the illegal extensions. “We
had issued notices to these residential units as they had constructed
sheds in the mandatory open spaces that are supposed to be left open. We
have dismantled some structures and given the others time. We will go
there after two days and if they haven’t removed them then we will do
it,” said Devendra Jain, assistant municipal commissioner, P-north ward
office. He added the BMC will also take action against the other illegal
constructions made in these flats.

This is the first action
after a squad of 65 officials was designated by the BMC to take on
illegal constructions in the city. The squad started work on Monday and
will be responsible for taking action against illegal constructions in
their wards. If they fail to do so, the officials can be fined and
jailed for negligence.

However, experts say the BMC move is likely to face resistance from citizens and political interference.

The civic body also demolished five unauthorised shops in Parel that had come up on a recreational ground.

The BMC received 21,011 complaints of illegal constructions in the
city, from January 2012 to March 2013. Of these, it attended to 15,278
while 5,733 are still pending.