Council nod for Ulhasnagar illegal buildings

The Maharahstra legislative council passed the much-debated bill regularising the unauthorised constructions at Ulhasnagar, in neighbouring Thane district.

The government assured the house that the move to regularise the vast number of illegal constructions in the suburban city would not become a precedent for other suburbs in Mumbai as well as few cities in the state, which are also facing the problem of unauthorised constructions.

"There are around 588 unauthorised buildings in Ulhasnagar having an FSI (floor space index) of more than four. We are all set to take action against these structures. The government will also ensure that the structures developed by encroaching the public road would be brought down," saod Rajesh Tope, minister of state, urban development.

There are almost 40,000 illegal structures in Ulhasnagar, most of which are likely to be regularised through this bill, which has already been passed in the state assembly last week.

The Nandlal committee, appointed to recommend action against staff and officers involved in development of these structures, had recommended action against 97 officials, of which 83 belong to Ulhasnagar Municipal Corporation.

"We have taken action against 38 officers. No evidence of direct involvement was found against 39 officers. Inquiry is pending against two," said Tope.

The government has also decided to form a committee of experts for suggesting necessary changes in the structures, which are to be regularised after the bill gets governor's nod.

The district collector of Thane has been given the responsibility of the proposed regularisation move.