Set up panel to look into illegal constructions: HC to MCGM

Raising concerns over the rise in illegal constructions in the city and the civic body's "inaction" in addressing complaints, the Bombay High Court today asked Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai (MCGM) Commissioner to set up a committee to look into the issue.
A division bench of justices A S Oka and A P Bhangale was hearing a PIL by social activist Sayyad Rizvi against illegal constructions on government land in suburban Malad.
Rizvi in his petition alleged that despite repeated complaints to the civic body's ward officers no action is being taken.
The petitioner said he had approached several officers in the local ward office and also senior corporation officials to lodge complaints regarding illegal constructions but all turned a deaf ear and refused to take any action.

"The petitioner has a list of 33 places where illegal and unauthorised construction is being carried out by land grabbers, encroachers and trespassers but the officers are not taking any action," the petition claims.
According to the petition, a recent survey conducted showed that around 200 new constructions had come up in Madh, Marve area out of which 32 were declared as illegal.

The court was today informed by civic body counsel Anil Singh that the corporation does not have enough manpower to look into these issues and complaints.
The bench then directed the civic body chief to form a committee within two weeks to look into the issue and submit a report within six weeks.

The court also directed that a ward officer should accompany the petitioner and identify those structures which are illegal in Malad, Madh and Marve area and initiate appropriate action if the structure is found to be illegal.