Navi Mumbai Officials Face Heat Over Illegal Constructions

In Navi Mumbai, the Municipal Corporation has taken significant action against rampant illegal constructions by issuing show-cause notices to 295 individuals. These notices target responsible persons and officers, including 10 deputy municipal commissioners, 91 assistant municipal commissioners, 75 junior engineers, and 119 clerical staffers, who were in service during the period these unauthorized structures flourished. The scope of these notices covers current, transferred, and retired personnel.

The Bombay High Court is currently hearing a contempt petition related to the issue, with Cidco made a party to the proceedings for adjudication, though not as a contemnor. The NMMC's affidavit to the court details the extensive nature of the problem, naming specific officials, including those who have previously faced anti-corruption measures. Explanations have been requested within an eight-day timeframe from staffers across all eight ward offices.

Between mid-June and early July, the civic body managed to demolish 30 out of 4,946 identified unauthorized structures. The affidavit highlights that these wards encompass 29 villages with a significant number of illegal constructions, alongside those in low-income housing areas. Concerns have been voiced in the state assembly regarding these structures, with a legislator pointing to delays in Cidco providing benefits to project-affected persons as a contributing factor to the proliferation of unauthorized housing over several decades.