To the ground: BMC plans to demolish illegal buildings which house Maharashtra netas

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to demolish unauthorized constructions in Shubhada and Sukhada buildings in central Mumbai’s upscale Worli locality, both the buildings house state’s top politicians and former ministers. Earlier in this week, the civic body has written to the Mumbai police seeking police bandobast to carry out the demolition in these societies in next week. The civic body’s demolition move comes almost one and half year after it first issued notices to the buildings for illegal additions and alterations. In April 2013, the civic body had issued notices to former deputy chief minister and senior NCP leader Ajit Pawar, late BJP leader Gopinath Munde, Punjab governor Shivraj Patil Chakurkar, Maharashtra state Congress president Manikrao Thakre, former ministers Patangrao Kadam, Anil Deshmukh and former state congress chief Ranjit Deshmukh among others under the Maharashtra Region and Town Planning (MRTP) Act for allegedly carrying out unauthorized constructions in their shops. The information regarding the MRTP violations emerged following complaints from RTI activist Amit Maru. [caption id=“attachment_1848395” align=“alignleft” width=“380” class=" “]  One of the buildings which the BMC is planning to demolish in Worli. Image courtesy: Sachin Gokhale/Firstpost[/caption] The leaders had reportedly built illegal extensions, converted shops allotted to them into offices and gymnasium and had carried out unauthorised alterations inside the properties. Most notices were for alterations on the ground floor of Shubhada. Subsequently, following the requests from the societies, the Municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte had granted an extension of 90 days to the two societies to either regularise or remove the unauthorised constructions. Civic officials said that despite giving them enough time, the societies have failed to comply with the notices. It was found during the site inspection conducted by the civic officials in last month that while some of them have complied with the notices, others have failed in removing the unauthorized construction as per the approved building plan. “So, we have decided to carry out the demolition of unauthorized construction in these buildings on December 18. We have also informed to the local police station in advance to enable them in making necessary arrangement for the bandobast. If we get the required police bandobast, we will go ahead with the demolition plan,” said Keshav Ubale, assistant commissioner of G south ward office of BMC, speaking to Firstpost. While the congress leader and chairman of Shubhada society Ranjit Deshmukh was not available for comment, the society officer bearers claimed that they have removed the unauthorized construction as asked by the civic body. “Following the notices, many have left the offices and some of them have removed the unauthorized constructions. Only few members are yet comply with the notices but their work is going on which is likely to be completed soon,” said a society office bearer. The office bearer further claimed that late BJP leader Gopinath Munde has removed his office and has submitted a proposal with BMC for setting up a clinic for his daughter and the NCP leader Ajit Pawar has also removed the illegalities. The former congress minister Patangrao Kadam has approached to the state government for the regularization after the civic body rejected his proposal for the same. Civic officials said that it has sought the legal opinion in the former congress minister Patangrao Kadam’s case. “He has converted his office into the gymnasium. While we have rejected his proposal for regularization, he has approached the state government, which is yet to take a decision on it. So, we have sought legal department’s opinion to know whether we can take action in such scenario,” the official added. In February 2014, the civic body had also attached these two housing societies over non-payment of property tax bills from the year 2006. According to data provided by the Assessor and Collector department of the BMC, the total outstanding property tax dues from Shubhada society was Rs 11.94 crore while Sukhada society was to pay up Rs 4.42 crore, sums incurred from April 2006 to March 2014. The total outstanding amount of property tax of both the societies was around Rs 16.36 crore. Civic officials said that the societies have not yet paid the total outstanding property tax amount.