Regularising illegal constructions a focus of KDMC’s ₹2,206-crore budget, activists cry foul

Among various other projects, the budget will also focus on the controversial practice of regularising unauthorized constructions in the region. “We are focusing on taking up a campaign to regularise those buildings that can be legally regularised after paying a certain penalty

KALYAN: The Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) head Dr Bhausaheb Dangade on Thursday presented a budget of ₹2,206.30 crore for 2023-24 with no new proposals for tax hikes. The budget estimation is around ₹400 crore more than the previous budget by the civic body.

Kalyan, India – February 6, 2019: Aerial view of Ulhasnagar for issue of Illegal construction in Ulhasnagar in kalyan, India, on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 (Photo by Rishikesh Choudhary/HT) (HT PHOTO)

Among various other projects, the budget will also focus on the controversial practice of regularising unauthorized constructions in the region. “We are focusing on taking up a campaign to regularise those buildings that can be legally regularised after paying a certain penalty. Those that cannot as per the law will be demolished by our team,” said Dangade.

Reacting to the decision, Shriniwas Ghanekar, social activist and founder of Alert Citizens Forum, told HT, “It is clear that the commissioner has taken a decision to regularise unauthorised constructions in this budget. Years ago, my colleague Kaustabh Dattatray Gokhale and I had filed a PIL in the Bombay high court on this. The then chief justice Swatantra Kumar and other judges, in an order dated January 28, 2008, had specifically ordered that mass regularisation of unauthorised constructions should not be done by the KDMC without the permission of the court. So the municipal corporation taking this stand would be in contempt of the HC order.”

The budget has made the necessary provisions for new health facilities, city sanitation, solid waste projects, primary education, provision of health facilities for strays and domestic animals, sports, parking policy, road development, crematoriums, production of fertiliser from waste and smart governance.

The KDMC administration has also made a provision for free funeral facilities for yellow and orange ration-card holders in this year’s budget. It has plans to install energy-efficient street lights in the KDMC area by May 2023, beautify more roads, and set up electric or gas chambers for animal funerals.

The budget proposes to initiate container toilet facilities in the city and revive various lakes in municipal areas. Under the Amrut Yojana, a 300-km network of water channels will be laid in 27 villages. Construction of 15 new wells, setting up of a new maternity centre and starting a new superspeciality hospital are some of the key proposals in the budget.