The Times of India 09.04.2013
Finally, TMC goes after illegal constructions
MUMBAI: The death of 74 persons in perhaps the state's deadliest building collapse has finally galvanized Thane Municipal Corporation, the police and the district collectorate to jointly declare war on the illegal construction industry here.
Two more persons were arrested for the seven-storey building collapse at Shilphata in Mumbra even as an army of demolition teams, eviction squads and a panel of legal experts was readied for targeted action against illegal construction. First on the radar are 57 illegally-built multi-storey buildings.
"The architect of the illegal building at Lucky Compound, Farukh Abdul Laif Chapra (59), and Mumbra journalist Rafiq Daud Kamdar (44) have been picked up. We are searching for the five partners of the two arrested builders, Jamil Shaikh and Abdul Salim Siddiqui. Some more officials from the TMC could also be arrested soon," a senior police official told TOI.
The total arrests so far in the Mumbra collapse has now gone up to 11, with police action imminent on civic officials who are said to have been named by the builders in a diary as beneficiaries of the cash paid at all levels.
Though the TMC drive was described as long delayed by many, officials were focused. They said the operation will begin on Tuesday with a crackdown on the 57 buildings constructed with utter contempt towards development control rules. They are in a dilapidated state. Criminal action against the builders and contractors involved seem imminent.
"In the first phase, we will pull down all 57 multi-storey buildings which had been served eviction notices. The tenements continue to be occupied, but not for long," a civic official said.
A hi-tech mechanized crusher has been rented by TMC to help pull down any building up to 10 storeys within a few hours. "After the 57 buildings, we will concentrate on the illegal structures in Shilphata and Mumbra. The water and sewerage connections to all illegal buildings will be cut and our teams will work with the police to get the occupants evicted and the builder arrested,'' the official said.
Municipal commissioner RA Rajeev has appointed a dedicated team of engineers who have been given one-step promotion to carry out their actions in a systematic manner.
"While one team will pull down illegal structures, the other will identify illegal or dilapidated buildings. The legal team of nine lawyers will start procedures for eviction of residents," said a TMC spokesperson.
Two more persons were arrested for the seven-storey building collapse at Shilphata in Mumbra even as an army of demolition teams, eviction squads and a panel of legal experts was readied for targeted action against illegal construction. First on the radar are 57 illegally-built multi-storey buildings.
"The architect of the illegal building at Lucky Compound, Farukh Abdul Laif Chapra (59), and Mumbra journalist Rafiq Daud Kamdar (44) have been picked up. We are searching for the five partners of the two arrested builders, Jamil Shaikh and Abdul Salim Siddiqui. Some more officials from the TMC could also be arrested soon," a senior police official told TOI.
The total arrests so far in the Mumbra collapse has now gone up to 11, with police action imminent on civic officials who are said to have been named by the builders in a diary as beneficiaries of the cash paid at all levels.
Though the TMC drive was described as long delayed by many, officials were focused. They said the operation will begin on Tuesday with a crackdown on the 57 buildings constructed with utter contempt towards development control rules. They are in a dilapidated state. Criminal action against the builders and contractors involved seem imminent.
"In the first phase, we will pull down all 57 multi-storey buildings which had been served eviction notices. The tenements continue to be occupied, but not for long," a civic official said.
A hi-tech mechanized crusher has been rented by TMC to help pull down any building up to 10 storeys within a few hours. "After the 57 buildings, we will concentrate on the illegal structures in Shilphata and Mumbra. The water and sewerage connections to all illegal buildings will be cut and our teams will work with the police to get the occupants evicted and the builder arrested,'' the official said.
Municipal commissioner RA Rajeev has appointed a dedicated team of engineers who have been given one-step promotion to carry out their actions in a systematic manner.
"While one team will pull down illegal structures, the other will identify illegal or dilapidated buildings. The legal team of nine lawyers will start procedures for eviction of residents," said a TMC spokesperson.
