Union minister Narayan Rane gets second notice from BMC

Narayan Rane’s bungalow Adish in Juhu. Pic/Suresh Karkera

After sending a notice to Union Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Narayan Rane to demolish unauthorised work at his bungalow in Juhu on March 11, the BMC sent a fresh order this week granting another 15 days.

The BMC had inspected the bungalow in the last week of February and sought a reply on the work carried out at the eight-storey structure by March 4. Rejecting a reply of 13 points filed by Rane's lawyers Hasmit Trivedi and Kiran Bait, the BMC later issued a notice, giving the owners 15 days' time to demolish "the illegal additions". The notice had stated that unauthorised construction had taken place in the basement by converting a portion into a room. It also listed other illegal construction activity between the first and eight floors, except the seventh floor.

On March 16, a new speaking order was passed by the designated officer of K-west Ward demanding that the additions be demolished within 15 days. mid-day tried to reach Rane and his son Nilesh, but they did not respond to calls.

Advocate and former IPS officer YP Singh said, "The BMC is missing the essential point. A layout was approved with a [public] garden in 1978 by the municipal commissioner. This layout was illegally altered to make way for a hotel and the bungalow of Narayan Rane and in the consequence the garden space was removed. This was done without getting a fresh layout approved from the municipal commissioner. Till the time the garden issue is resolved, such orders would be meaningless."