The Hindu 25.03.2013
Illegal structure on footpath abutting Mukesh residence demolished
More than a year after it was alleged that Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani’s 27-storey mansion ‘Antilia’ on Altamount Road had encroached upon a footpath, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has demolished the unlawful construction.
In answer to a query filed by a city-based Right to Information (RTI) activist, it was revealed that a couple of weeks ago, the mansion staff were compelled to remove a sloping bund wall and some flower beds from the footpath abutting Mr. Ambani’s residence following a notice from the BMC. “The BMC had earlier bent the rules to ‘regularise’ the anomaly… now, the civic body officials have said the unlawful stretch has finally been cleared,” said RTI activist Anil Galgali who has been pursuing this matter.
“The incident sends out a clear message that no one can bend rules no matter how wealthy he or she may be,” he said. According to Mr. Galgali, the Ambani residence had encroached on 309.31 sq. metres of setback area (the mansion is spread across 37,000 sq.m.).
