BMC issues notices to 150 illegal structures

A day after three workers were charred to death when a fire broke out in an illegal garment unit at Saint Augustine Chawl in Khotwadi, the municipal corporation issued notices to 150 commercial units in the area for violating civic norms, reports Bhavika Jain.

A day after three workers were charred to death when a fire broke out in an illegal garment unit at Saint Augustine Chawl in Khotwadi, the municipal corporation issued notices to 150 commercial units in the area for violating civic norms.

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After the municipal body found that the owner of AB Apparels had built two floors without permission from the civic building proposal department, they began surveying other units with irregularities in the area.

AB Apparels had permission only for a ground floor and extension up to 14 ft high. But the structure was more than 28 ft high and housed a godown, a front office and a workshop.

Unit owner Kamlesh Chamaria had refused comment on the irregularities.

Moreover, it was located in a narrow bylane making fire rescue operation difficult.

“We have begun the survey and notices have been issued to the defaulters,” said M.M. Kshirsagar, assistant municipal commissioner, H-west ward said on Friday. “All structures that are more than 14 ft high will be served notices.”

Sources from the ward office said more than 150 commercial units with found flouting civic norms on the first day of the survey.

Khotwadi, one of the oldest locales in Santacruz, comprises more than 3,000 tenements, of which 35 per cent are commercial units. It is being redeveloped under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme.

Rahul Shewale, chairman of the civic standing committee, said the municipal corporation would set up a squad to survey densely populated areas to monitor illegal development.