Mumbai: BMC demolishes film studios in Madh-Marve area

After the National Green Tribunal (NGT) passed an order deeming film studios in the Madh-Marve as illegal, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) started demolishing them on Friday. It is believed that these studios not only misused permissions but built permanent structures instead of temporary ones.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya, who is the whistle-blower in the case, lashed out at BMC Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal claiming that despite knowing it was illegal he didn't take any action. The previous Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government under Uddhav Thackeray had given illegal permission in the name of temporary structures, he alleged.

“We approached the court which questioned BMC on how illegal constructions were allowed. I requested the chief minister and deputy chief minister to order a probe into this,” Kirit Somaiya told reporters.

In its order, the NGT stated that they found the permission was only for setting up a temporary structure for the purpose in question. However, the film studios had set up huge structures where a lot of steel and concrete material was used.

“In our assessment, such structures cannot be held to be of temporary nature by their size and the material used but the studios claimed that these structures were prepared using eco-friendly material, therefore, and they should be treated to be of temporary nature. We are not in agreement with this argument and find that these kinds of structures show violation of the grant of temporary permission,” stated the order by NGT.

📢मढ, एरंगल, भाटी परिसरातील ५ अनधिकृत फिल्म स्टुडिओचे निष्कासन सुरू, दोन दिवसात पूर्ण होणार कारवाई

🔨बृहन्मुंबई महानगरपालिका क्षेत्रातील मढ, एरंगल आणि भाटी गाव परिसरात समुद्रीय क्षेत्रालगत उद्भवलेली अतिक्रमणे निष्कासित करण्याची कारवाई पी उत्तर विभागाने हाती घेतली आहे.

🔨या… pic.twitter.com/bJn4SIWyXK

— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) April 7, 2023

“In this case, there is blatant violation because they did not remove the structures in question before moving further application for granting temporary permission for raising construction.”

The order concluded: “It had been stated that the BMC circular dated March 1, 2019, under which the film studios were granted permission for raising temporary structures for the purpose in question, had already been stayed until further orders by virtue of order dated November 21, 2022 passed by the additional municipal commissioner (city). Therefore, it is evident that no such permission can be granted.”