SURAT: Diamond manufacturing units in Surat have come under the scanner of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) for indulging in unauthorized construction against the approved building plans.

In an unprecedented move, officials from Katargam municipal zone turned their attention to the illegal construction by diamond manufacturing units on Thursday and demolished around 900 square feet of illegal construction at two such units at Nandu Doshi Ni Wadi to send a strong message to the diamantaires.

The diamond hub in Varachha, Katargam and Mahidharpura houses more than 3,500 diamond cutting and polishing units. However, the maximum concentration is in Varachha and Katargam where illegal construction has increased in the past couple of years, especially in the units belonging to the small and medium diamantaires, with the increase in manufacturing capacity and the installation of cutting and polishing tools and equipments.

Official sources said the municipal zones in Varachha and Katargam have started a campaign to remove unauthorized construction after the impact fee law was implemented across the state.

Officials said there have been many industrial and residential premises where unauthorized construction has taken place even after the cut-off date for regularization of unauthorized structures. They said such structures will not be regularized under any circumstances.

"We have been surveying the industrial areas where the diamond units are located. On Thursday, we found two units at Nandu Doshi Ni Wadi with illegal construction against the approved building plans. We demolished them and collected a fine of Rs 1 lakh," executive engineer, Katargam municipal zone, R C Jariwala said.