Illegal GMLR shops: BMC gets last chance to show it acted, or not

The MSHRC came down heavily on the BMC for failing to submit an actiontaken report over the illegal shops along the GMLR since January It has directed the BMC to submit a detailed report on April 19The Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission MSHRC had taken cognisance of middayrsquos December 14 2022 report on shop owners illegally extending floors and running bars eateries and other shops on the GoregaonMulund Link Road GMLRThereafter it asked the BMC to submit a report on the action taken against the erring owners by January 20 this year but it didnrsquotmidday reported in February that the BMC demolished only one illegal shop An activist who had highlighted the illegal construction had earlier told this paper that there are 50 such commercial establishments These unauthorised units cropped up following the roadwidening work the activist had alleged They had claimed to have the BMCrsquos nodAlso Read Mumbai BMC removes illegal floor of 1 GMLR shopThe illegal units built on upper floors of the shops along the GMLRThe latest hearing at the MSHRC was held on March 15 which was attended by legal representatives of civic departments the state government and the Mulund police Advocate P P Chavan representing the BMC submitted an affidavit from the assistant engineer G T Dhotre To which MSHRC chairperson Justice retired K K Tated said ldquoOur attention has been invited to the copies of the socalled inspection report which is confined to December 2019 After having considered the oral and documentary submissions we are not at all satisfied and convinced with the action taken by the BMCas apparently it does not in any manner indicate or cover the issues reported in the news article middayrdquoThe commission sought to know why the BMC failed to take action when even the high court had dismissed a shop ownerrsquos plea for relief earlier this yearAdvocate Chavhan requested an adjournment seeking more time to collect details which irked the chairperson ldquoIt is unfortunate that in spite of adjourning the inquiry from time to time from January till date on one or other pretext adjournment has been sought by the corporation again which is strongly deprecatedrdquo the chairperson saidThe only shop that was demolished in February this year PicsRajesh GuptaThe chairperson granted the adjournment but asked the BMC to submit on April 19 a detailed report on the action taken against the illegal structures till dateldquoWe direct that the additional municipal commissioner should submit an affidavit in reply by properly explaining each and every issue in the present matter Assistant engineer Dhotre is directed to apprise additional municipal commissioner of the present matter and our direction and also make available the entire record to facilitate submission of proper effective affidavit on recordrdquo the commission said