Times of India reports that residential buildings and chawls sold out to gullible buyers in the Vasai-Virar region are falling like a house of cards with at least two illegal structure being razed down daily.
Image: Times of India
The Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation (VVMC) has begun the tearing down of the buildings in Pelhar, Valiv, Nalasopara and Virar using excavators, indicating the quality of the structures.
So far, around 4,500 vertical and horizontal structures have been brought down. "We are aiming at pulling down atleast two to three vertical structure a day," said VVMC Commissioner Satish Lokhande. The structures are three to four storeys constructed on government land by forging documents. Most of the flats have been sold out.
"Unauthorised chawls constructed over the weekends and sold for Rs 2-3 lakhs are also being demolished," said Lokhande, adding that a number of illegal structures have existed for over a decade.
A special cell has been created to keep a record of illegal structures. Most of the illegal buildings are in Nalasopara. Civic officers said that in many cases buildings have been sold and builders have vanished. Illegal buildings occupied by people and those come up in violation of Floor Space Index (FSI) are also being pulled down.
Around 70 personnel from the Maharashtra Security Force (MSF) have been deployed at demolition sites. In addition, a team of 100 civic officers and employers travel together to the demolition site. Over 350 police cases under the Monopolies and Restrictive Trade Practices (MRTP) Act has been registered and a number of property developers are cooling their heels in jail, said Lokhande. Atleast 300 illegal buildings have obtained court stay.
The civic administration has launched an awareness drive to educate prospective flat buyers. The VVMC has begun displaying a list of approved constructions on its website (www.vvcmc.in). Prospective buyers have been advised to visit civic offices and verify the building plan before investing in flats.