Maha to amend MRTP Act to check illegal constructions

In a bid to clamp down on illegal constructions, the state government is planning to amend the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and will issue an ordinance soon, the Legislative Council was told today.
"The amendment will seek to do away with prior approval of the municipal corporations before filing the First Information Report (FIR) against guilty civic officials (who approve illegal building plans)," Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said.
He was replying to a starred question raised by Leader of Opposition, Dhananjay Munde (NCP) during Question Hour.
Munde sought to know if a developer of a building in Dongri area of Mumbai has illegally added seven floors to the structure when construction was allowed only up to four storeys.

The NCP leader also wanted to know if government has taken any action against the builder concerned.
Fadnavis said the amendment shall entail filing of charge sheet within three months of lodging FIR.

He referred to a Bombay High Court ruling that no stay shall be granted on evacuation of occupants of such illegal constructions, so that these structures can be razed.
"However, the builders move lower courts and obtain stay. All the municipal corporations have been asked to submit a list of all such stays granted by the lower courts," he said.
Fadnavis said the government will argue before the High Court that orders of lower courts granting stay in such scenario are in violation of HC directives.