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Journalism of Courage
The Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Nagar in Andheri West where comedian Kapil Sharma’s illegal structure is situated has several other structures built in contravention to development control regulations, confirmed civic officials. A number of these are host studios, film production houses, and offices of filmstars, sources further confirmed.
In 2009, the Bombay High Court had ordered a demolition of 4,362 unauthorised structures or illegal extensions in the colony, which came up on land owned by the Maharashtra Housing And Area Development Authority, following which the civic body carried out a massive demolition drive razing most of these around 2011.
But locals say many of these had been re-erected subsequently. Ironically, the plot was earmarked for residential activity, but now has a dominant commercial character to it.
“There are about 199 bungalows in the region. A majority of these have illegal extensions. While civic officials served several notices to such structures in the past, in most cases the demolition action is stayed,” said local activist Suresh Soni. Another resident Unmesh Patole echoed Soni’s views. In most cases, while a building permission for construction of a ground floor structure exists, people have added unauthorised floors, civic officials said.
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