Probe illegal encroachments: MP Arvind Sawant

Shiv Sena MP Arvind Sawant has appealed to  Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to conduct a judicial inquiry into the haphazard development of commercial and residential establishments on Mumbai’s textile mill premises. Of the 56 mills, 46 mills have so far been re-developed under the tweaked Development Control Rules. The trigger is a massive fire that gutted the pub situated on Kamla Mill compound, leaving14 people dead.

As reported by DNA on Saturday, mill owners have benefitted after the Congress government in 2001 revised Development Control Rules in their favour leading to the development of high-rise residential and commercial buildings on mill lands, allegedly in violation of various building and safety norms.

Sawant, who had visited the Kamala Mill compound, said the government should hold probe by a retired high court judge to fix the responsibility and take action against the defaulters. “The judicial commission needs to inquire into the agreements reached between the mill owners and occupiers and whether it has been registered in concerned government offices. Besides, the commission should also verify if the stamp duty has been paid for such deals,’’ he noted.