Palghar: 12,000-plus buildings under scanner in VVCMC hotspots

The massive waterlogging during the monsoon in Vasai. Pic/Hanif Patel

The nil or partial action of the Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) against illegal encroachers is to blame for the waterlogging during the monsoon in the locality, a local activist has alleged. Terrence Hendriques from Nalasopara told mid-day that he had filed a PIL in 2019 after finding 12,606 illegal structures in Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara. Hendriques has also alleged that there are exponentially large numbers of illegal structures, including in the pockets where Virar police are conducting investigations, but no action is being taken against them.

The activist had filed a PIL in 2019 and "during the lockdown the matter was heard in a fast-track court because illegal structures were rampantly constructed during the lockdown," he added. "I had surveyed 17 locations in Vasai-Virar-Nalasopara under VVCMC and learnt that there are 12,606 illegal structures. I had informed the HC in my affidavit but the VVCMC officials in their counter affidavit did not disclose all the illegal and unauthorised structures. VVCMC officials had mentioned only 2,800 illegal structures," Hendriques said.

"I had also come across documents related to 353 reservation plots in the jurisdiction of VVCMC which were illegally encroached on, but no action was taken by the municipal corporation," he added.

About recent expose

In a massive scam revealed recently, the scamsters sold homes in 55 illegal structures which were constructed after making forged documents and rubber stamps, under the nose of the planning authority. The scamsters also made forged documents to alter plots in the category of agricultural land into non-agricultural.

"If there are 55 illegal buildings according to the investigating team, then the cops must file 55 FIRs in the matter, as these buildings are constructed on different survey numbers. If the cops do so, I am sure, more than 300 bogus builders will be brought to book, and it will discourage land mafias, who are dominant in the area," he added.

One of the beat chowkies created to keep an eye on the illegal structures in VVCMC's jurisdiction. An activist alleges that there are unauthorised structures right next to them. Pic/Hanif Patel

Asked if these bogus buildings were mentioned in his PIL in 2019, Hendriques said, "I had mentioned the illegal practices adopted in changing the land rights from agricultural to non-agricultural to make unauthorised constructions. These 55 buildings must be there in my list but I need to check the survey numbers to find them," he added.

Residents suffer

The activist added that the encroachers have diverted or shortened the width of many nullahs to make unauthorised constructions. "These illegal activities are causing severe flooding during the monsoon in the VVCMC jurisdiction, where many people die due to drowning. Local residents face massive waterlogging," he added.

Mid-day had recently highlighted how the VVCMC apathy caused residents of Vasai-Virar and Nalasopara to face waterlogging in the monsoon. Several houses were flooded forcing the residents to book hotels for a stay. "VVCMC officials only issue MRTP notices to the illegal structures and either take no action or partially raze them," he added.

Civic officials have also created several beat chowkies to keep an eye on the illegal structures in VVCMC's jurisdiction. "But these beat chowkies are just an eyewash, as massive illegal structures are underway next to many of them. It is even surprising that the VVCMC officials are not even obeying the orders of Bombay HC," Hendriques added. Anil Kumar Pawar, the commissioner of VVCMC, did not respond to messages or calls.