Demolish illegal tower or pay Rs 50 crore fine, IAS officers told

The housing society in Kalina only had permission to build to maximum of ground-plus-three storeys

The day after mid-day exposed how IAS and IPS officers built 12-storey towers in Kalina that were unauthorised by the BMC, sources from the civic body revealed that the offenders will either have to shell out about Rs 50 crore or the buildings will be razed to the ground.

Yesterday, mid-day highlighted how senior bureaucrats and police officers broke the law by building the towers, which are three times over the height limit set by the BMC when the building plans were approved in 2013. The corporation had only given consent for three wings to be built to a maximum of ground-plus-three storeys. There are about 150 flats in total, of which the lion's share - 76 apartments - belong to the IAS and IPS officers.

Congress corporator Brian Miranda had been fighting against this violation by the Maitri Co-operative Housing Society for over a year. Since the construction is almost complete, the society sent amended blueprints to the BMC to get the additional floors regularised. However, the civic body is now going to take stringent action against this infringement.

High time for action
Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta told mid-day, "We have to examine the nature of violations. We will take action against the violators, irrespective of who is involved." Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too responded to mid-day's story, saying he will look into the matter.

A senior civic official said, on the condition of anonymity, "We have decided to either raze the stilt-plus-12 storey structures or impose a fine of about Rs 50 crore on the society. The penalty will be calculated at 25 per cent of the ready reckoner rate for each unauthorised floor. The ready reckoner rate for Kalina is nearly Rs 20,000 per sq ft."

Chief engineer's report
The chief engineer (DP) also submitted a confidential report with his findings in the matter. Meanwhile, Miranda has demanded that if this was a planned conspiracy then all the erring officials should be booked under the MCOCA Act.