*They first approach the BMC’s consigned department seeking permission for structural repairs and later proceed with irregularities in their work*

*ILLEGAL CONSTRUCTION MAFIA COMES UP WITH UNIQUE TECHNIQUE*

 

 

 

 

*They first approach the BMC’s consigned department seeking permission for structural repairs and later proceed with irregularities in their work*

 

 

*Mumbai:* The BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) B-Ward is clouded with controversies with the mafia of illegal constructions defiantly carrying out their work risking residents’ lives.

 

It is alleged that the mafia have pocketed the higher ups hence the illegal work is being openly carried out below the officers’ nose.

 

Surprisingly in B-Ward the mafia have not spared even the heritage buildings, like 101 / 132 Bariya Building, opposite Sadanand Hotel, Crawford Market, Mumbai 400003. It is an open secret that they have permission to carry out only repairs work, but the mafia went ahead and constructed a lift with wooden stairs right from ground floor till the second floor in a major reshuffle by remodifying the entire structure, which was once a residential building now has turned out to be commercial.

 

Before lockdown once the B-Ward’s Buildings and Structures Department claimed to have demolished certain illegal structures after receiving complaints from its residents, but no one seems sure about it.

 

Many feel why has the Archaeologolical Survey of India (ASI) who is responsible in maintaining the heritage structures of Mumbai not looking into this burning issue.

 

How can the BMC’s Buildings and Factory Department grant permission without even consulting the ASI especially when the property is marked as ‘heritage’.

 

Up to now more than 19 illegal constructions have been carried out by the mafia during the lockdown period, out of which some have already been completed while work a few is still being carried out.

 

According to DLM sources, there is a 90-year-old community hall in the area in which the mafia have already constructed an illegal floor in the name of repairing, and will soon be erecting an illegal lift.

 

The residents of B-Ward are praying that they don’t want to see another Kesarbai Mansion collapse some three years back which killed 13 innocent people.

 

The residents are also questioning why is the BMC/MCGM DMC ZONE-1 not looking into the issue. Is he also expecting some more Kesarbai Mansion incidents to take place in this area.

 

There has been umpteen complaints filed by its residents to the higher civic authorities to stop the mafia mania, but it seems their prayers are yet to be answered.

 

The Bombay High Court takes suo moto cognizance of the Bhiwandi building collapse incident and initiates a PIL in the matter making Maharashtra government and the relevant Municipal Corporations as respondents. A three-storied building had collapsed in Patel Compound area of Bhiwandi on September 21, killing 26 people including seven minors.