Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging illegal construction in Thane, the Bombay high court asked the state government to explain its stand on the issue. “Why is the state government not taking action against the slumlords under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of slumlords, bootlegger, drug offenders and dangerous persons Act (MPDA)?” the court said, on Wednesday, reacting to the PIL filed by Harit Vasai Sanrakshan Samiti.
A division bench of acting chief justice JN Patel and justice BR Gawai directed the government to file an affidavit and identify the people involved in carrying out illegal constructions on public land. The court also asked for disciplinary action against the highest authority of the area that has illegal constructions. “We can suggest Maharashtra Bhushan award for the highest officer of an area th zero illegal construction,” the court said.
According to an affidavit submitted by chief secretary JP Dange, the government had proposed a special police force and a dedicated municipal police force to carry out demolition of illegal constructions throughout the state.
“The dedicated force will help carry out the demolitions smoothly,” said additional government pleader SR Nargolkar. “The survey will be completed by March, 2010.”
There are over 2.3 lakh illegal structures in Thane district. The government has demolished nearly 16,000 of them since 2003.
According to an affidavit filed by deputy commissioner of Thane, there are 2,36,462 illegal structures in the district, of which, over 75,000 are in Kalwa and 41,671 in Mumbra.
