NMMC launches survey of unauthorized constructions

NMMC launches survey of unauthorized constructions
As per the order of the high court, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation has now announced that it is going to initiate a survey of the city to identify unauthorized constructions.
Around a year back an NGO had filed Public Interest Litigation in the HC against rising unauthorized constructions in Thane district. Responding to the PIL, the court had ordered all authorities of the district to provide details of each and every unauthorized construction.
As the order cannot be ignored, NMMC too has to initiate the survey. Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation comprises Rural, Urban and Industrial region. "In rural section houses are made by Project Affected People of the city at the plot allotted by City and Industrial Development Corporation. And hence it's the responsibility of CIDCO to conduct the survey and submit the report", informs Vijay Nahata, Municipal Commissioner.
Similarly, it is the responsibility of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation to conduct the survey of industrial belt.
For the rest of the plots belonging to NMMC the survey will be carried out by our teams, explains Nahata.
Sources inform, the highest number of unauthorized development is seen in villages, followed by industrial regions and the least on NMMC-owned plots.
According to Nahata, the report of the survey was to be submitted by November 30, 2009. However due to technical reasons the survey was started a bit late.
Menwhile, NMMC has also started disconnecting unauthorized water connections. In one such drive they were able to disconnect 86 connections all over Navi Mumbai. This includes 26 from Vashi, eight in Koper Khairane and Ghansoli, 28 in Nerul, seven in CBD and eight in Airoli and Digha. Notices to around 1600 encroachers have been issued.
A few weeks back under the court order CIDCO was to initiate a survey at Ghansoli village. However, a rumour of demolitions was spread in the village. When NMMC water departments employees reached the village to cross check unauthorized water connections. The villagers assumed that they were the officials of CIDCO and had visited to organize demolition drive. All of a sudden hundreds of villagers gathered and started thrashing them. This incident is being viewed very seriously by Municipal Commissioner, who has now very clearly stated that "Any disruption to hamper the work of government servants will invite serious legal action". He has also decided to depute police force to provide security to organize such surveys in a peaceful and safe manner.