Tightening the noose around unauthorised constructions, Mumbai's civic chief Ajoy Mehta has decided to depute a new senior civic official in each of the 24 wards of the city to monitor and act against encroachments.

Currently, the designated officials, assistant engineer or junior engineer, look after illegal structures and report to the assistant municipal commissioner of the ward. The new officials will be executive engineers with quasi-judicial powers and can work independently, a report in this paper stated.