In the backdrop of growing illegal constructions in the city, corporators have demanded that the state government provide Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), a dedicated police force to take action against such structures.
In a notice of motion tabled in the civic general body meeting, MNS group leader Sandeep Deshpande has said that a full-time police protection force is needed in all 24 administrative wards so that it will help civic officials to act against unauthorised structures as well as illegal hoardings, water theft and electricity theft, among others. “To curb illegal structures, the state government should provide the BMC a full-time team of 50 policemen in each of administrative ward, which means that 24 wards will have 1,200 men. An IPS officer should be appointed to lead this force. Their expenses would be borne by the civic body,” said Mr Deshpande.
The demand for the BMC having its own demolition protection force has been long-standing. It was earlier made in 2008 by the then standing committee chairman and present Shiv Sena MLA Ravindra Waikar.
Though it was accepted by the state government, no measures have been taken to implement it so far.The civic officials have often blamed the police officials for not providing enough support for their demolition drives. Political pressure and local connections play a major role in the BMC men being refused police protection in such drives, they said.
“For demolishing unauthorised structures, adequate police protection is needed to be taken from the local police station. However, it is not being provided due to various reasons,” said Mr Deshpande. The notice of motion would be tabled before the civic house.
