MIDC issues notices to 59 illegal structures in Digha

NAVI MUMBAI: MIDC was quick to step out with its damage control mechanism to discourage illegal constructions after facing flak from the Bombay High Court. Following high court directive on July 30, instructing various government agencies to initiate necessary action against illegal buildings, MIDC has issued notice to as many as 59 such structures allowing the stakeholders to submit documents-permissions if any within 30 days which will follow demolition.
“We have issued notices to 59 unauthorised structures in Digha area which have come up on MIDC plots. A timeline of 30 days has been given to the builders and occupants to furnish the relevant documents and permissions from various agencies substantiating their claim of legality. On the lapse of the deadline action will be initiated to clear the encroached structures,” said Avinash Mali, deputy engineer of MIDC.
Out of 86 buildings which are under the radar of high court as illegal structures, a major chunk among them has been built on MIDC plots and rest on Cidco and revenue department. MIDC sources revealed that 59 structures have come up on its land for which notices were slapped on the encroachers. Cidco officials are still confused of its properties in Digha by saying that as the city planner it has never developed this area and restricted itself to Airoli node.
An official from revenue department said, “Revenue department does not have any vacant plot here in Digha area and all the lands have been transferred to MIDC in 2013 with 7/12 being executed.” On the flipside, MIDC sources said that they were not in possession of these plots in question so far. “The updated record of land status has not been uploaded on the official database which is only showing the encroachment. We will file and affidavit soon for not possessing the disputed land,” said an MIDC official.
Apart from these 86 buildings 9 others have been under the possession of high court appointed receiver which will face the axe soon as per court directive. In its previous order the high court had directed Thane tehsildar to inspect 86 illegal buildings which were found to be unauthorized. Now to demolish these structures court has said that all agencies will have to form special squads and coordinate with each other to bring down these buildings once the notice period is expired.