Mumbai: Activist on a quest to see if BMC demolishes its 'illegal' K-West office

After demolishing illegally constructed structures, will the BMC flatten their own allegedly illegal ward office in Andheri West? It is a question activist Prithvi Maske wants the civic body to answer with a yes, considering there are no records rega

The allegedly illegal K West ward office in Andheri West. Pic/Sneha Kharabe

After demolishing illegally constructed structures, will the BMC flatten their own allegedly illegal ward office in Andheri West? It is a question activist Prithvi Maske wants the civic body to answer with a yes, considering there are no records regarding the construction plans for the K-West ward building with BMC's Building Proposal (BP) department.

Maske submitted an RTI query demanding details of the approved proposal for the building, on the Chain and Triangle Survey (CTS) number 439, where BMC's K-West ward office is located. He received a reply from the BP department's Bandra West office saying no proposal was found and thus, information cannot to be given at this stage. Proposals for construction projects in Andheri are referred to the Bandra West office.

Maske then wrote a letter to the ward office last week, demanding the demolition. A civic official from the ward, said, "We need to check if the CTS number mentioned in the query and reply is correct or not, there could be a possibility that the CTS could be wrong." Maske said, "I am sure about the CTS number and BMC should take cognisance of my complaint at the earliest. BP department saying no records have been found clearly shows the building is illegal and thus, should be demolished."

Prashant Gaikwad, assistant municipal commissioner of K West ward, said, "I will check on the issue." VP Chitore, chief engineer, BP department said, "I have not seen the RTI reply, but there is a possibility that the records are with some other BMC department. And, if the query was particularly sent it to Bandra West office, that office may not have the records with them."

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