BMC Act needs amendment 8212; Nalinakshan

MUMBAI, June 16: Municipal commissioner K Nalinakshan today stated that he would urge the state government to amend the Brihanmumbai Muni...

MUMBAI, June 16: Municipal commissioner K Nalinakshan today stated that he would urge the state government to amend the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC Act so that civic officers will have more powers to tackle illegal constructions.

Addressing a press meet, Nalinakshan stated, 8220;The civic officers should have the powers to take summary action against the encroachers, similar to that of the collector. To ensure that demolished structures do not crop up again, the officers should confiscate all material left after the demolition. And illegal encroachment should be made a cognisable offence.8221; He argued that unless these changes are made in the Act, illegal structures will keep appearing in spite of repeated demolitions.

He informed that action against encroachers had been stepped up in the last 15 days and over 8,900 structures had been demolished during this period equivalent to the number of structures demolished every month before. 8220;However, the action would slow down once the rains begin. Wewill however, continue action against commercial and new residential structures,8221; he added.

The Commissioner of Police has promised additional police force during weekends when such construction takes place on a larger scale, the BMC chief informed. A BMC mobile van will tour the city to locate encroachers and inform the concerned ward officer for action. 8220;We are beginning with one van but gradually we will have three vans, one each for the city, western and eastern suburbs,8221; he informed.

Nalinakshan assured that the BMC would launch action against larger illegal structures in October. Admitting that the BMC had all along been targetting shanties, he said that a survey will be conducted and a massive demolitions drive will be launched. 8220;We will complete all the formalities such as serving them notice and also use the Metropolitan Regional Town Planning MRTP Act and then demolish them,8221; he added.

The BMC is also planning to relocate structures on footpaths on important roads in Mumbai, which havecome up before 1995. They will be relocated on housing board land, said Nalinakshan. Those that have appeared after 1995 will be demolished. Also beautification of the footpaths will be taken up by the BMC.