As realty rates head north, illegal construction biz thrives in Mumbra

Construction of unauthorised structures seems to be a thriving business in Mumbra. A house in an illegal building can be purchased for as little as Rs1,500 a sq ft, whereas you would more than Rs4,500 a sq ft in a legalised one, reports Naresh Kamath.

Construction of unauthorised structures seems to be a thriving business in Mumbra. A house in an illegal building can be purchased for as little as Rs1,500 a sq ft, whereas you would more than Rs4,500 a sq ft in a legalised one.

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“The scale of illegal constructions show there is a nexus at work here and it functions like a well oiled network,” said Imran Khan, a Right to Information (RTI) activist.

Nearly 90% of the buildings in Mumbra are illegal. As a result, all construction rules are flouted with impunity and safety is the main casualty.

Any building that takes at least 18 months to construct in normal circumstances would be ready within six months with the blessings of local officials and politicians. “I have seen seven-storey buildings come up in 40 days,” said Khan. “Even the demolitions carried out after complaints were cosmetic and work started soon after.”

According to Khan, builders don't lay a foundation and the cement and iron used are of inferior quality.

Syed Haris, an interior decorator, blamed the state government for the mess. “People live in illegal buildings not by choice, but because they have no other option,” said Haris. “The realty rates have reached unaffordable levels and it is impossible to buy houses in both Mumbai and its outskirts.”

Even Maharashtra Chambers of Housing Industry (MCHI), the apex body of builders, said the government had failed in curbing the rise of such illegal structures. “We are ready to provide more than five lakh affordable houses

provided we get faster permissions. But there is no response from the government. Affordable housing can curb illegal buildings to a great extent,” said Paras Gundecha, president, MCHI.