Mumbai: Following a complaint by activist Santosh Daundkar over encroachments and unauthorised constructions on municipal land around the Mahalaxmi Racecourse in Worli, the BMC’s G-South ward carried out a demolition drive against the illegal structures.The BMC has handed over about 92 acres of land to the Royal Western India Turf Club (RWITC) and has 120 acres in its possession, but encroachments have allegedly come up on both portions of land, said the complainant.The complaint states that plot F in the racecourse area has witnessed encroachment and unauthorized construction. Similarly, plot A has also witnessed continuous large-scale encroachment and unauthorized construction, resulting in the creation of slums. There are no boundary or compound walls around the 120 acres in the possession of the BMC, and slum lords are taking over the land, the complaint alleged.Daundkar had complained about the encroachment to municipal commissioner Ashwini Bhide during a public grievance meeting. Accordingly, Bhide instructed the concerned additional commissioner to take required action. “Encroachments have come up near the boundary line, while on the other side of the boundary line, a large horse stable is situated. Municipal land is being completely encroached upon by unauthorized local slum lords with the support of BMC, police and local politicians. The constructions are not merely small structures of 10–12 feet; in some places, they extend approximately 20–25 feet and include two- to three-storey structures,” said Daundkar.According to Daundkar, there are several BMC estate department plots that are not protected by compound walls or adequately monitored against encroachments. “There should be a proper municipal policy for the protection of all municipal open plots. Open plots owned by the BMC need to have proper signboards, compound walls or fencing, and other suitable protective measures to prevent encroachments. Monitoring of plots should be carried out through IT systems,” Daundkar demanded. Former IPS officer and lawyer YP Singh said, “Removal of encroachment is important, but the more important part is to take action against those officers who sponsored such encroachments.”“After the complaint was brought to our notice, instructions were issued to the concerned ward to remove those encroachments. Besides, wherever there is a need to protect municipal plots by constructing compound walls or fencing those properties, we will carry out the required measures,” said a civic official.
