CIDCO ups heat on illegal structures in Navi Mumbai

City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd (CIDCO) is acting on a warfooting against illegal constructions in Navi Mumbai. The planning authority is razing illegal structures rapidly following the recent Mumbra building collapse.

Yesterday, two under-construction structures were brought down, a ground-plus-one structure at Nerul Sector 23, and a ground-plus-two structure at Sarsole, in the same node. The structure at Nerul was, in fact, being built on Guruvarya Balaram Patil Vidyalaya's playground plot.

The big fall: CIDCO brought down an illegal under-construction building at Nerul, Sector 23, yesterday. The planning authority is on a demolition spree after the recent Mumbra building collapse that claimed over 70 lives.u00a0Pics/Sameer Markande

U Yadav, controller of unauthorised constructions, who was present at the demolition site yesterday said, "The school never complained about their land being encroached. No one was living in the under-construction structure.

Our demolition drive against illegal structures has caught speed especially after the recent Mumbra building collapse. At most of the constructions we have noticed that the quality of materials, which were used, have been extremely sub-standard."

Rachna Gadki, a student of the school who was also present at the demolition site said that the construction of the building began a month ago. "I was wondering why was our school's playground land being encroached upon," she added.u00a0The drive caught speed in May and demolitions were seen taking place in nodes like Ghansoli, Airoli, Koparkhairane and Uran. Sources claimed that demolition of 18 illegal structures have been planned in May, nine of which are between Kharghar to Uran. The other nine are from Belapur to Digha node.

"Recently, CIDCO even sent out letters to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) and MSEDC, asking them to disconnect electricity and water connections of illegal structures under the signature of the newly-appointed Managing Director Sanjay Bhatia," said an official. "Its better that people check if a building has the required occupancy and commencement certificates before buying."u00a0