BMC demolishes government offices

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has started demolishing government offices, which were illegally constructed in Jawaharlal Nehru Garden (reserved as RG – recreational ground) at Nariman Point.

The civic body on Friday razed the offices of Employment Exchange and Kutumb Sakhi of Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal (MAVIM).

The civic body had issued notices to political parties – Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP), Janata Dal and other government offices such as Maharashtra tourism and development corporation (MTDC), Public Works Department (PWD), Employment Exchange, MAVIM.

In 2013, the residents’ association Nariman Point Churchgate Citizens Welfare Trust (NPCCWT) filed a plea against encroachments by political parties and government undertakings on an open space.

Responding to the PIL, in March 2016, the high court directed the parties to remove illegal extensions and asked the government to shift their offices.

In case of BJP office, the court has ruled that the party should reduce its office size to permissible area of 1,200 square feet as per Development Control Regulations (DCR) 1991. According to the BMC sources, the BJP office had covered an area of over 3,000 square feet.

“We have started the demolition as the political parties and government offices have failed to comply with the court orders. It will continue till the entire RG plot is free of illegal constructions. The court has asked the MTDC to shift its office by March 21 and the BJP has agreed to remove the illegal extensions,” said a senior civic official.

Last week, the BMC had issued a notice to the BJP, saying that civic body will undertake demolition on its own, if the party fail to comply with court orders.

In yet another major demolition drive, the K-East ward officials demolished the illegal wall and other unauthorised constructions, which had blocked the 60 ft road for last 47 years at Manjrekarwadi, Andheri east.

According to the civic body officials, a 1.5 km and 60 ft wide road, connecting the NS Phadke road and Andheri-Kurla road, was closed for last 47 years due to illegal construction of a wall in the middle of the road and encroachments by the Scindia society.