BMC removes all encroachments at south Mumbai garden

BMC demolished the office of Maharashtra Rajya Apang Karmachai Mahasang at Jawaharlal Nehru garden

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished the office of Maharashtra Rajya Apang Karmachai Mahasang at Jawaharlal Nehru garden in Nariman Point on Tuesday.

BMC workers demolish the illegal structure in on Tuesday. (HT PHOTO)

This was the last encroachment on the garden that was to be removed by BMC.

“We have removed the last remaining encroachment from the garden, now it is PWD’s (public works department) responsibility to develop it as a recreation garden,” said a civic official on the condition of anonymity.

Following the 2016 Bombay high court order, BMC demolished the office in the garden. After this demolition, only two structures remain – offices of the BJP and Janata Dal.

The matter dates back to 2013, when residents’ association legally challenged the encroachments near Nehru Garden – offices of the BJP, Janata Dal, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), Employment Exchange and Zunka Bhakar Kendra. The BJP office had illegally extended its office and had even erected a monsoon shed without prior permission from BMC.

In 2016, after hearing PILs by residents’ associations, the HC came down heavily on the BJP headquarters and state bodies for encroaching upon the recreation garden. It had then directed BMC to take action against the structures.

MTDC had voluntarily vacated the garden last year. The BJP office removed its shed after BMC had sent a notice, as per the high court order. The remaining structures – BJP and Janata Dal offices, however, remain as legal spaces as per the provision of the 1991 Development Plan.