NMMC illegally built kiosks in Vashi parking lot: Activist

NAVI MUMBAI: An RTI activist has lodged a complaint with the NMMC grievance cell, saying that the civic body has illegally built 33 kiosks over a drain at a pay-and-park site in Vashi.
Activist Anarjit Chauhan told TOI: “NMMC used public funds to construct these kiosks over a drain, flouting the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, and Development Control Regulations.”
NMMC’s town planning department has also not given any commencement certificate to build these kiosks which are likely to be given out for commercial and other purposes, Chauhan said.
“There were several healthy trees on this stretch which were killed for these constructions. Based on my RTI findings, I have also demanded that the civic contractor must be booked under the Public Destruction Act, 1984, and the Unlawful Prevention Activities act, 1967. NMMC must also start an inquiry into these violations,” the activist said.
However, city engineer M Dagaonkar denied any illegalities in the constructions. “These plots do not require CC and OC. The kiosks are meant for public service and they won’t be used for commercial purposes. There will be extended service counters to pay bills,” said Dagaonkar.
Chauhan said NMMC has been unable to give a proper reply to his RTI queries on how these kiosks have been termed as legitimate. “There are no legal provisions for giving extra FSI over a nullah. I will continue to seek demolition of these kiosks. If needed, a PIL will be filed in the court,” he said.
Another activist, Sandeep Thakur, also said the constructions were unnecessary and restricted the actual purpose of the plot. “It is wrong to have kiosks, for whatever purpose, inside a parking area. This will lead to chaos.”