Illegal bldgs highest in Andheri-Juhu

 The K west and east wards, which include Andheri (west and east) and Oshiwara, have 6,458 and 5,235 illegal buildings—more than any other ward of Mumbai. The numbers are from a list compiled by the BMC for the years 2008-13, which it submitted in an affidavit to the Supreme Court on Friday.
   Overall, the city has more than 56,000 illegal buildings, of which 16,314 were detected in 2012 and 2013. The yearly figure for each ward does not include the number of illegal buildings found there the previous year. Strangely, though figures are available for the H (West) ward for the years covered, the BMC falls shy of mentioning their sum in the affidavit—in place of the total, blank space greets the eye (refer to the adjoining story for civic activists' questions and the BMC's answers).
   The lowest number of illegal buildings is in B ward (Sandhurst Road, IR Road, RB Marg, JMR Marg, etc). The total for 2008-13 is 559, and 171 and 54 for 2012 and 2013. A ward (Fort, Ballard Estate, Colaba, etc) would have been alongside B in the list had it not been for a jump from 139 to 857 from 2012 to 2013.
   The ward-wise list was compiled by deputy municipal commissioner (removal of encroachment) Anand Wagralkar. He has said in the affidavit that action was initiated under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act and the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Authority (MRTP) Act whenever complaints were received by residents or activists against illegal buildings or ward offices submitted reports of inquiries into construction illegalities. The affidavit mentions the number of demolitions undertaken and the number of cases concerning illegal buildings pending in court.
   "The demolition figures include those concerning part demolition of illegal extensions in buildings, encroachments on designated open spaces and structures where construction was carried out beyond the approved plan and in excess of granted FSI. In some cases, entire buildings were demolished," said Wagralkar.
   Experts have criticized the BMC for disregarding construction monitoring and approval rules. "What do ward officers and staff do when illegal constructions come up? Illegal buildings are demolished and relevant action taken only when alert citizens bring violations to the notice of the authorities. The authorities seldom act on their own," said architect P K Das. "The authorities are supposed to visit construction sites and give permissions in stages. Instead, they wait for complaints to come to them."
   Activists say the figures in the BMC's affidavit have been underreported. A member of Save Open Spaces said the Juhu NGO had conducted its own survey of illegal buildings in the area and would soon release the findings.
   The affidavit was ordered to be filed by the Supreme Court on March 15, while it was hearing a petition filed by the Maharashtra Hawkers' Union against the BMC's treatment of vendors in Andheri (West). Pertaining to the case, the court told the BMC to file an affidavit with the number of encroachments on roads and pavements by hawkers. It also told it to file one on unauthorized constructions.

Developers start razing 'illegal' Navi Mum bldg


Navi Mumbai: Developers of an 'unauthorized' five-storey Koparkhairne building have started voluntarily demolishing the structure. The City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (Cidco) recently served a notice to the building under MRTP Act. The demolition started on May 4.
   Residents of Bonkode in Koparkhairne had been complaining to the Cidco about the building being illegal and dangerous since the past two years.
   "The building went into litigation. But, finally it is being demolished due to media pressure after the Mumbra collapse," said acomplainant, Santosh Mhatre.
   While a section of a building, named 'Allaince Residence' according to the developers' earlier brochure, is being razed, action is yet to be taken against another portion, said Mhatre, who resides in the area.
   Mhatre inquired about the building's three developers, whose names and phone numbers were written on a brochure. "We found that the material used for the building was of sub-standard quality and feared a Mumbra-like collapse. Also, one of the builders was related to an accused in the Mumbra crash," he said.
   Cidco had last year served a demolition notice to the building. "But, the developers moved court and got a status quo. Now, we have sent a fresh notice," said Anil Patil, officer in-charge of anti-encroachment work, Cidco.
   But Mhatre says Cidco should raze the structure, rather than allowing the builder to do so willfully. "The demolitions are going at a slow pace and we fear that once monsoon sets in, they will have an excuse to stall the demolition," he said.
   At another demolition site in Talavali village in Ghansoli, Cidco had to stop work due to protests by villagers last Wednesday.
   "After the collapse of a building in Mumbra and the Worli's Campa Cola complex legal tussle, authorities have urged people in Navi Mumbai to not buy illegal property or reside in them," said a Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation spokesperson.

Ghansoli has over 2,600 unauthorized structures

T he upcoming Ghansoli node has the highest number of illegal structures in Navi Mumbai—2,664, according to NMMC data. Neighbouring Airoli stands second at 737. "Also, five buildings in Ghansoli have been declared dangerous. Action will be taken against all illegal buildings," said deputy municipal commissioner (encroachments) R K Mathpati. The NMMC will try to cut off water supply to the illegal buildings and urge the MIDC to discontinue power supply as well, he said.

DISTRESS AFTER DISASTER: Residents of illegal floors of buildings in Worli's Campa Cola compound

(L) The building in Koparkharine; Cidco had to stall demolition in Talavali village due to protests