After Campa Cola, Chavan says new law soon on illegal structures

Mumbai: A 14-member committee headed by BMC commissioner has been entrusted with the task of preparing a new comprehensive law to stop illegal structures from proliferating in urban areas, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan told the Legislative Assembly in Mumbai today.[caption id="attachment_1567621" align="alignleft" width="380"] Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan. AFP[/caption]"Ulhasnagar model of regularising illegal structures has not yielded any results and the same yardstick could not be applied to other cities as each one has different problems and issues," Chavan said while replying to a debate on illegal structures in Pimpri-Chinchwad."In Ulhasnagar, out of the 6,623 illegal structures, not even 100 have been cleared for regularisation. Structural stability is a must for regularising," he saidThe committee headed by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) commissioner will comprise commissioners of civic bodies from the state, he said adding that he has sought statistical analysis of illegal structures in Pimpri-Chinchwad by June 30.Chavan lamented lack of a strong urban governance machinery in the state. He also said 11 districts in the state don't have a regional plan.He admitted that regularising illegal structures was a "moral hazard" and need of the hour was to find a middle path.Pimpri-Chinchwad has three planning authorities out of which 66,324 structures are in the municipal corporation limits, under the new township development authority there are about 16,000 structures while in MIDC area there are 1,300 structures which are illegal, he said.The Bombay High Court had earlier sent eviction notices to 66,324 structures. According to HC orders, the civic body had demolished some structures and cases were filed against those making illegal constructions, the CM said.Girish Bapat (BJP) demanded that the structures be regularised by levy of heavy penalty and also action be taken against the developers and authorities who allow illegal structures to come up.Vilas Lande (Independent) criticised Chavan's response saying that he had not said anything concrete to provide relief to the people.Speaker Dilip Walse Patil asked the Chief Minister to consider providing interim relief to the people in illegal structures and a time-bound programme be undertaken to prevent such structures from coming up.A special session of state Assembly can be convened for passing a new law on illegal structures, he said.Chavan said it was important to categorise the illegal structures and agreed to request the High Court for granting relief to genuine people.PTI