State govt will soon recruit additional security personnel to prevent encroachments in Aarey Colony

Mumbai: The state govt will soon recruit 33 additional security personnel to prevent encroachments and debris dumping in Aarey Colony, said Dairy Development Minister Atul Save in the Legislative Council on Wednesday. At present, there are 35 security personnel who guard Aarey Colony as well as the adjoining forest area.The issue of encroachment at a 12th-century archaeological site in Aarey Colony, debris dumping at Unit Nos. 20 and 21 was raised in the House during Question Hour by BJP MLCs Uma Khapre, Pravin Darekar, Congress's Bhai Jagtap and others.Responding to supplementaries, Save said the debris dumping at Unit 20/21 was carried out by a contractor working with MMRCL. "The area has been cleared of debris, and an FIR has been registered against the contractor. Also, 469 new encroachments have been removed," he said.Darekar alleged encroachments continue in connivance with civic and Aarey officials, while Jagtap demanded the suspension of the local ward officer and police officer for the rampant encroachments.Save said the dept has written to the BMC commissioner as also the police to take action against new encroachments. The dept, he said, does not have adequate security staff and is looking to recruit ex-police and ex-army personnel.Mumbai guardian minister Ashish Shelar said a central govt app NETRAM for monitoring new slums is now being used by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority. It informs depts on whose land encroachment is happening. He said a meeting of elected representatives and officials will be called within a month to discuss the issue.