At least 20,000 illegal structures are to be razed in Kalyan-Dombivli, reports have quoted the civic chief as saying. The structures that are on the radar are shops, restaurants, hotels and chawls where extra rooms have been built. Over 350 cases have been filed over unauthorised construction within the Kalyan Dombivli limits, said the KDMC chief.

The head honcho claimed that he had held a meeting with officials and demolition work is expected to begin in the next couple of weeks. While it is important that unauthorised structures are razed, it is equally vital that we tackle the issue from the roots. Civic chiefs and officials have to look at how these unauthorised structures come up in the first place.