BMC
The continual illegal encroachments of Bandra
Amna Lakdawala, 23rd November 2022, Mumbai Uncensored:
Once BMC’s anti-encroachment van leaves, Bandra’s area, Hill Road is packed with unlicensed vendors.
The city that is known as the New York of India is a dream in most ways, but it has failed to restrict the illegal encroachments that happen all over the city, especially in the prestigious area of Bandra, Hill Road.
The famous shopping area of Mumbai, Hill road is well-known for selling a variety of products at affordable rates and it is accompanied by beautiful capacious space – only for a certain period of time. Till 7 pm, an anti-encroachment van of the BMC is stationed in the area, and the moment it leaves, chaos enters in form of sellers taking up every space of the road and footpaths with various products. Everyone that has been here has seen them around and even purchased goods from them, but what they don’t know is that it is illegal for them to sell their products.
According to the locals, the promises made by police, politicians and civic bodies mean nothing. There furthermore said that while there were a couple of days of peace in the area around August when BMC had driven the illegal sellers off Hill Road, it predictably lasted only for a short period of time.
On the report of a hill-road resident, “Because the BMC’s placement of its vehicle is right across from our apartments, their response to our complaints and repeated follow-ups is ensuring that there are no hawkers within 50 metres of our buildings. But after that [after they leave], the hawker threat persists. The BMC urged me to look for myself after I brought the problem to their attention.Later, he mentioned that the van leaves between 7 to 7.30 pm and hawkers are usually seen doing their dealings till late evening.”
Furthermore, a well-known activist Anil Galgali also gave his 2 cents on the issue, “Cities like Bangalore established hawkers’ policies in response to the Supreme Court’s directive, but even eight years later, the regulation is still in operation in Mumbai. Given the extensive linkage involved, the political and administrative elites are unwilling to put it into practice. If the proposal is put into practice, the BMC will make millions of dollars and have clean roads. Additionally, they can conserve the labour and equipment needed for action.”
“The BMC has developed innovative solutions to address important problems like potholes, hustlers, waste management, and nullah cleaning. The BMC seeks ways to temporarily cobble matters together despite the fact that these problems are complicated and require comprehensive policies. Even in the hawkers’ instance, the action is merely an eyewash”, added another Hill Road local. “The civic officials were instructed to contact the police, he continued, because they were unable to dispatch a vehicle after 7 o’clock.”
And finally the assistant commissioner of H West Ward, Vinayak Vispute commented in light of this nuisance, “We have begun taking tough measures against hawkers and have sent letters to the private properties that protected them throughout the action. Once they are found guilty of repeated offences, even we won’t give them their things. The neighbourhood is now considerably more walkable as an outcome.”
BMC
Mumbai Uncensored Impact: BMC Demolishes on Illegal Constructions in Versova, Suspends Assistant Engineer Somesh Shinde
Siddhant Mohite, Mumbai Uncensored:
In a significant development prompted by a letter from Mumbai Uncensored dated April 5th to the BMC, the municipal body has demolished Illegal Constructions in Versova. The BMC has also suspended Somesh Shinde, an Assistant-engineer from the K West ward, for neglecting illegal and unauthorized constructions under his jurisdiction in Andheri West, particularly in the CRZ areas of Versova. Despite multiple complaints, Somesh Shinde failed to take appropriate action against these violations.
An additional blow to Somesh Shinde’s professional conduct was his absence from a crucial meeting with municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on June 5. For this absence, he has been issued a show-cause notice and given two days to respond.
Further compounding his suspension, on June 3, Somesh Shinde was instructed to prepare for the demolition of three unoccupied buildings in Versova, including arranging manpower and logistics. However, he neglected these duties. On the day of the demolitions, while senior officials stood in the sun overseeing the operations, Shinde was found sitting in a private air-conditioned car and left before the demolition was complete.
The suspension order also accuses Somesh Shinde of chronic absenteeism, not reporting to the office, and manipulating his attendance records by punching in outside of the workplace. A departmental inquiry is underway, and his suspension will remain in effect until its conclusion.
In related actions, Swapnil Kolekar, Executive Engineer of the K West ward, has been transferred to another department. Meanwhile, a dedicated team has been formed to identify unauthorized constructions in the CRZ areas of Versova and prepare for their demolitions.
The news of demolition of illegal constructions follows a letter submitted by Mumbai Uncensored to the BMC on April 5th, highlighting the ongoing issues and urging for stringent action against the negligence of duties by municipal officials.
BMC
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