Hindustan Times 31.12.2009
Civic structure razed, BMC refuses to payThe Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) Standing Committee has refused to clear expenditure of Rs 3 lakh incurred by the K-west ward office (Andheri) to demolish its own illegal structure.
It is the standing committee that clears financial sanctions relating to the corporation.
The office of the Andheri west ward, which had a ground-plus-five storey building, had built an office on the terrace nearly a decade ago. This was done as there was no space for staff of the deputy chief engineer of the Storm Water Drain department.
This illegal structure (alternation to building) was demolished by the ward office after a query by the state information commissioner as a right to information petition.
The BMC appointed a private contractor to demolish the structure in November.
The ward officials put up a proposal before the civic standing committee about sanctioning Rs 3 lakh demolition expenditure.
Members of the committee raised questions on the structure and on appointed private contractor for demolition.
The committee refused to clear the proposal.
The committee’s chairman, Ravindra Waikar, asked:
“Why should the civic body pay if the ward has made illegal structure on its terrace and demolished it by private contractor instead of having its own demolition squad?”
Waikar insisted that this cost be borne by the civic official responsible for the structure.
