Action of MHADA Mumbai Board’s Encroachment Removal Department: 16 unauthorized concrete structures demolished, encroachment on 4 plots removed. Evicted 150 unauthorized huts on a seven acre plot at Bhabrekar Nagar in Malvani-Malad area.
During the last 2 months, 16 unauthorized concrete constructions in Brihanmumbai area have been demolished and encroachment on four plots has been removed. The campaign has succeeded in removing encroachment on about 9 to 10 acres of MHADA plot and this campaign also includes the largest encroachment removal operation of 150 unauthorized huts on a seven acre plot at Bhabrekar Nagar in Malvani Malad area.
In the past two months encroachment removal campaign has been conducted by the board in Goregaon Siddharth Nagar, Motilal Nagar, Malvani Malad, Dindoshi Malad East, Santacruz East, Kole Kalyan, SVP Nagar Versova-Andheri West, Tagore Nagar – Vikhroli, Akurli Mhada Vasahat – Kandivali East, Anand Nagar Santacruz. The encroachments on the plots of MHADA in this area have been removed and the unauthorized constructions have been demolished. Encroachment on a 1.80 acre plot at Malvani Malad has recently been removed in this campaign.
As per the gazette notification of May 23, 2018, MHADA has been appointed as a special planning authority and has been delegated by the government to ‘MHADA’ the power to evict unauthorized construction on MHADA land under Chapter IV Section 43 to 58 of MRTP Act 1966. Accordingly, 34 Nominated Officers have been appointed area wise in Mumbai Board.
These nominated officers include the respective Deputy Engineers and Revenue Managers. It is the responsibility of these nominated officers to evict the illegal construction within the prescribed time period by giving a notice of 24 hours / 07 days duly to the person making new / additional construction without permission found in the jurisdiction of these officers.
Security arrangements are necessary from the police department to ensure that there is no law and order problem while eviction of unauthorized constructions, and also to ensure the safety of the staff-officers present on eviction duty. However, there was a delay in the removal of encroachments due to insufficient security arrangements from the local police station or lack of assurance of availability.
As a solution to this, a team of 25 employees of the Maharashtra State Security Corporation has been appointed by the Mumbai Board on contract basis for 1 year to provide security to the MHADA staff-officers on eviction duty. This team also includes 12 security guards with weapons. Due to these security guards, the encroachment removal campaign has gained momentum and the confidence of the MHADA officers and staff involved in the eviction campaign has increased.
Such was the action of encroachment removal
The concerned rent collector-clerk working in the circle inspects the encroachment on MHADA land. After the inspection the report is given to the concerned department. In case of unauthorized construction on MHADA plot without taking proper permission of MHADA Planning Authority, the concerned encroachment holder is given a notice to remove the encroachment on his own within 48 hours. Also, the encroachment holder is given a right of natural justice to submit written / oral evidence within 24 hours after receiving the notice. However, if no evidence is provided, MHADA takes action for encroachment eviction.
Unauthorized constructions by occupiers in MHADA Colony are subject to demolition by Zonal Designated Officer as per the provisions of Maharashtra Town Planning Act (MRTP Act) 1966. The cost incurred by the MHADA office for demolishing such unauthorized constructions is recovered from the concerned occupiers.
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