As many as 2,575 unauthorized constructions have come up after March
31, 2012. Pardeshi said that a survey was needed to ascertain the exact
number of multi-storied unauthorized constructions. “A meeting with
chief secretary Jayant Kumar Banthia through video-conferencing was held
recently. Of the 2,575 unauthorized constructions, 173 cannot be
regularized as they have been built on land reserved for civic amenities
in the development plan (DP), in floodline affected areas and in green
zones. The civic body will remove them soon,” he said.

He said
more demolition drives were necessary to prevent the growth of illegal
constructions. “The civic body has filed 861 complaints against
unauthorized constructions covering 33.51 lakh sq ft. We have demolished
225 such constructions.” with a total area of 8.87 lakh sq ft.The civic
administration has conducted a drive to demolish illegal structures.
However, this drive is insufficient,” he added.

The civic body
will also stop providing civic amenities to unauthorized constructions.
“Water and drainage facilities to unauthorized constructions built after
April 1, 2012 will be cut from next week. Corporators had pointed out
that it was improper to provide streetlights and roads to an area if 100
% constructions are unauthorized. It is a valid argument and has been
accepted,” Pardeshi said.

The state government had issued a
government resolution stating that double the property tax of the
unauthorized construction be collected as penalty for those buildings
constructed after June 4, 2008. “The general body has approved a
resolution to collect penalty charges equivalent to the property tax.
The state government has annulled this resolution. As a result, the
civic administration will collect double the property tax as penalty for
the period between June 4, 2008 and March 31, 2012,” Pardeshi added.