Bldgs without CRZ nod in city may face action

Mumbai: Several buildings in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai that have come up without the mandatory coastal regulation zone (CRZ) clearance could soon face action. 

    The state government has decided to ask civic bodies to initiate action against them after Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan's refusal to grant post-facto environmental clearance to such buildings last week. 
    There are nearly 700 such buildings in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai, sources said. 
    Some like Colaba's Adarsh society were constructed without the obligatory CRZ clearance. 
    Last week, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan made out a case for granting postfacto clearance to buildings where floor space index (FSI) violations had not been committed. The state government had argued that third-party rights had been created in most such buildings and sought their regularization after payment of fines. However, Natarajan rejected the proposal. 
    The Union minister had asked the government to initiate action against such buildings. 
    Sources in the government said the civic bodies in Mumbai and Navi Mumbai will now be informed that post-facto CRZ clearances will not be granted to such buildings and that action should be initiated under prevalent laws.