The Bombay high court on Friday directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to come out with a master plan to protect/conserve gaothans in the city, which are plagued with illegal construction and extensions.
A division bench of justices Naresh Patil and AP Bhangale said, "It is high time you start using technology and satellite images to keep a check on illegal construction. Stop relying on your manual assessment to protect your properties."
The court made this observation while hearing a public interest litigation filed by one HS Dilima and Janhit Manch highlighting the illegal constructions having taken place over the year in gaothans in Andheri (West).
Advocate Jamshed Mistry argued that the constructions have come up on plots so small that, with the narrow lanes in gaothans, it will be difficult for any fire engine to enter in case of an accident. The safety of people living there is highly compromised, he said.
The court then told the corporation, "You should have the city on your drawing room TV screen, if there is an illegal construction, it should pop up. Consider modern technology."
The court also directed the state government to consider coming out with an effective policy. "Corporation is a part of you and the state has to guide it to come out with an effective policy to stop illegal constructions. The state should also issue effective public policy with regard to open space," it said, posting the next hearing on the PIL after two weeks.
