Maharashtra will amend Act to curb illegal building

The Maharashtra government plans to amend Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and will issue an ordinance soon, the Legislative Council was told Wednesday. After the amendment, prior approval of the municipal corporations before filing the first information report (FIR) against guilty civic officials who approve illegal building plans will not be required, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said.

During the question hour, leader of the Opposition Dhananjay Munde had raised the issue of an 11-storey illegal building in Dongri area. Mr Munde said that the construction of the unauthorised tower was not possible without the connivance of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and police officers.

Concurring with the Opposition leader, the CM assured him that the said building would be demolished within 15 days and strict action would be taken against those involved in it. The CM also said that the government would bring an amendment in the MRTP Act. “The amendment will seek to do away with prior approval of the municipal corporations before filing the FIR against guilty civic officials (who approve illegal building plans),” Mr Fadnavis said.

Mr Munde also wanted to know if the government had taken any action against the builder concerned. Mr Fadnavis said the amendment should entail filing of chargesheet within three months of lodging an 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 a stay. All the municipal corporations have been asked to submit a list of all such stays granted by the lower courts,” he said.

The CM said that the government would argue before the high court that orders of lower courts granting a stay in such scenarios are in violation of HC directives.