RTI power: Chembur locals zero in on illegal bldg, BMC razes it

As reported in Publication: Times of India Mumbai; Date: Mar 24, 2009; Section: Times City; Page: 5
RTI power: Chembur locals zero in on illegal bldg, BMC razes it
Sukhada Tatke I TNN

Mumbai: Acting on complaints from residents, a BMC officials’ squad started demolishing an unauthorised seven-storeyed structure at Tilak Nagar on Monday.

The demolished structure was the ‘C’ wing of Bharat Nagar Co-op Housing Society’s building number 29, which had come up illegally, without permission from the civic body’s building proposals department. Two other wings have the permission.

“The builder had permission to build only two wings, but he constructed the third on his own. A shop was also built there without consent. When we got to know of the irregularities last year, we demolished a portion,’’ said assistant municipal commissioner R W Pawar. “We wanted to bring it down by controlled explosions, but it was not possible due to the proximity to the other two wings.’’ It was then that they issued a tender for manual demolition. “It will take a few days to bring it down completely.’’

“In August 2003, members of Bharat CHS society in Tilak Nagar decided to demolish their old building and develop the plot to benefit from Mhada’s sanction of additional FSI. They constructed the building to rehabilitate the original 35 members of the society in Wing A and built Wing B as a saleable component. The society agreed upon developer Javed Memon of Paradise and Bhoomi Developers,’’ said Mohan Pednekar, secretary of the society. “We started living there in 2006. Suddenly another wing came up and we didn’t even know about it.’’ The developer was not available for comment.

A resident said it all started when they approached the BMC about the lack of open space and access to their wing. “Under the RTI Act, we learned that the ‘C’ wing was unauthorised,’’ said the resident.

When these facts were pointed out to BMC officials, they issued a notice under the MRTP Act to demolish the unauthorised seven-storied building and the shop. “The builder was arrested and is now out on bail,’’ said Pawar.