Dismissing the reply filed by Union Minister Narayan Rane on the alleged illegal construction at his bungalow in Juhu, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a fresh notice asking the owners to demolish the “illegal additions and alterations themselves”. 15 days time has been given. , The corporation warned Rane that if the “illegal portion” of the eight-storey bungalow Adhish on Juhu Tara Road was not demolished within a fortnight, a BMC team would itself take action and also collect the demolition fee.
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A speaking order passed by the designated officer of K-West ward (Andheri) on March 11 stated that the documents submitted by the owner/occupier of the bungalow were insufficient to prove the validity of the additional alterations and structure. “In view of the above, I have come to the conclusion that as mentioned in the notice, the construction done by you is wholly illegal, unauthorized and liable to demolition. I have, therefore, passed the following order. You are hereby directed This is done to remove the unauthorized works mentioned in the above specified notice within 15 days from the date, failing which, the unauthorized works mentioned in the notice will be demolished departmentally at your own risk and cost and the demolition fee will be assessed by the Department. will be recovered from you through the VAT,” reads the order issued last week.
According to available documents, on March 10, advocate Hasmit Trivedi and another person Kiran S Bait attended the hearing before the designated officer of K-West ward regarding illegal construction on behalf of Rane.
According to records, Rane submitted two replies against the BMC notice and termed the corporation’s action as a case of “political vendetta” given the Union minister’s “bitter political rivalry” with Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray.
“We and our mentor (Narayan Rane) have been vocal critics of Shri Uddhav Thackeray and the way Shiv Sena Not only working in state government but also in corporation. In addition, being a member of our Vice-Chancellor Bharatiya Janata Party And while serving as a cabinet minister, due to the envy of other political leaders in Shiv Sena, we are being targeted at a personal level,” Rane said in response.
The BMC, while opposing the BMC’s notice against the bungalow, rejected all the 13 points presented by Rane. In a notice issued to Rane’s bungalow on March 4, it was said that a part of the basement has been converted into a room and unauthorized construction has been done. In addition, open spaces or garden areas from the first floor to the eighth floor were illegally converted into bedrooms, rooms and halls, the civic body alleged. The BMC had given Rane seven days to file his reply.
Former IPS officer and advocate YP Singh has described BMC as action cosmetic. “BMC is creating legal mess with the whole thing. The actual legal position is that it was a large layout with a garden. This park was removed and instead, two illegal plots were created without the permission of the coastal authorities. One hotel on an illegally subdivided plot and Narayan Rane’s building on the other. Unless the two buildings are demolished and the garden is restored, there is no point in issuing such frivolous notices. Such cosmetic action will only pave the way for subsequent regularization,” said Singh.
Earlier, Right to Information activist Santosh Daundkar had filed a reminder complaint against Rane’s bungalow alleging illegal construction, violation of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) and Floor Space Index (FSI). Daundkar had filed the first complaint against the bungalow in 2016. However, no action has been taken in the last six years.