Even as cattle farm owners and other residents struggle for months or sometimes years to secure basic permissions to repair their dilapidated structures, an unchecked surge of illegal hutments is reshaping parts of Aarey Milk Colony’s tribal hamlets. Backed, locals allege, by a well-connected slum mafia, these constructions rise swiftly and brazenly.

In the tribal hamlet of Vanichapada, a 15x15-foot illegal under-construction house was razed before it could be completed following direct orders from the chief executive officer (CEO) of Aarey Milk Colony. Sources told mid-day that such houses are allegedly being “sold” for a staggering Rs 7-10 lakh each, raising serious questions about the nexus enabling this alleged land grab.

The building at Vanichapada, which was made of bricks and concrete, was disassembled after an alert resident brought the matter to the notice of the authorities concerned, prompting the security department of the Aarey CEO’s office to act. Vijay Wagh, the security officer from the Aarey CEO’s office, said, “We demolished an illegal structure at Vanichapada. No permission had been given for construction or repairs of any house, and so the demolition was carried out.”