I threatened forest officials,I will do it again: Awhad

“I agree I talked tough with the forest officials. I will do it again. They just can’t evict people living in an area for 50 years,that too in June when monsoon is about to start. Evictions during monsoon are not allowed,according to a government resolution,” Awhad said.

Suresh Thorat,chief conservator of forest in Thane in 2011,had written to the state government that his men trying to demolish illegal structures in the Mumbra-Diva belt were abused by Awhad.

Awhad claimed he received a call on June 11,2011,from one Vishwanath Patil that government officials were about to demolish his house.

“Patil and his family have been living on that piece of land for over 50 years. His family is also fighting a legal battle over the land. Still,the forest department wanted to demolish his house,” he said.

“I did use harsh words because at times government officers don’t understand a polite tongue. I will do this again if they try to evict residents living there for years,” Awhad said.

Forest officials did go after June to demolish the structure but faced opposition from Awhad every time. “We went to the spot in 2011 during monsoon. However,later,whenever we went,although it was not monsoon,we faced opposition from Awhad,” a senior official said.

The MLA claimed forest officials were trying to frame him and escape responsibility for the Mumbra building collapse. The ownership of the land on which the building stood is still not clear,with the revenue and forest departments passing the buck on monitoring illegal activity.

NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said: “Government officials take money and allow illegal constructions. When people start residing,they move to demolished these structures. Affected people go to legislators who are well within their right to stop such demolitions.”