Additional Municipal Commissioner Dr. Ashwini Joshi urges swift action on unauthorised constructions ahead of the monsoon | File Photo
Mumbai: In a review meeting, Additional Municipal Commissioner (city) Dr. Ashwini Joshi stressed the need to address unauthorised constructions before the monsoon, pointing out the slow pace of demolitions between January and March. She called for accelerated efforts in April and May, emphasising that the crackdown must be swift, decisive, and free of leniency to ensure compliance.
The meeting, held at the BMC headquarters, was attended by Deputy Commissioner Vishwas Shankarwar, Assistant Commissioners (Encroachment Removal) Vinayak Vispute and Mridula Ande, along with other key officials.
Joshi directed the civic authorities to adhere strictly to documentation protocols and follow the prescribed guidelines rigorously in their efforts to combat unauthorised constructions. She stressed the importance of seamless coordination among all relevant authorities to ensure effective and efficient enforcement.
Further, Joshi instructed the ward officials to provide comprehensive details of unauthorised constructions to the Assessor and Collector (A&C) department ensuring that penalties are imposed immediately.
She also directed close coordination between the Assistant Commissioners, designated officers, and key departments, including Building Proposals, A&C, and Legal, to handle each case of illegal construction with the highest level of attention.
On the issue of extremely dangerous buildings, Joshi reiterated that no citizens should be allowed to live in such buildings, even at their own risk. Despite this directive, some individuals continue to reside in these hazardous structures.
Following the court’s order, Joshi emphasised that for the collective safety of residents, no one is permitted to stay in these buildings under any circumstances. She instructed that all such buildings must be vacated immediately and that strict adherence to the court’s directives be ensured.
