The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) recently revealed the existence of 4,570 illegal buildings within its jurisdiction. The findings were part of an extensive survey conducted by the corporation. KDMC reeved that in an affidavit filed with the Bombay High Court (HC).
Following the survey, the Bombay HC ordered KDMC to issue show-cause notices to the owners and tenants of these buildings. The court's order came in response to public interest litigations (PILs) against illegal construction in the KDMC area.
The affidavit also claimed that KDMC has already demolished 1,687 illegal structures, including four multi-story buildings. The corporation also collected taxes from 28,847 buildings, irrespective of any legal action against illegal construction.
The corporation plans to take action against the remaining illegal buildings once the electoral code of conduct is lifted. The Election Commission of India has temporarily suspended demolition drives to make sure of fair elections.
Despite this, the court has ordered KDMC to send out notices to the owners of the illegal structures. Interestingly, state authorities claim that there are more illegal structures within KDMC's boundaries.
A separate survey by tax authorities in Kalyan Taluka found 449 commercial and 7,793 residential structures to be illegal. These details were disclosed during a PIL hearing filed by resident Harishchandra Mhatre. PIL claimed that there are about 165,000 illegal structures in KDMC.
On collectors' land, the state discovered 272 unapproved buildings. This survey was conducted after KDMC and the collector's office promised to take appropriate legal action against illegal construction.
The court has ordered KDMC and the collector's office to ask the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd. (MSEDCL) to not provide electricity to the illegal constructions. However, KDMC has claimed that MSEDCL is duty-bound to provide connections within seven days of application without requiring any NOC from KDMC.
The court will further discuss this matter on July 8.
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