'Shopping centre flouted norms'

The Times of India:Linah Baliga:Saturday,17 September, 2011.

MUMBAI: What should have been a series of small convenience shops has developed into a full-fledged shopping centre, allegedly in violation of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act (MRTP), 1966, in Four Bungalows area of Andheri (W). Activist advocate Y P Singh alleges that the Versova police has not taken cognizance of an FIR filed by the BMC against Kamdhenu shopping centre in October 2010.

The BMC's K (west) ward had issued a notice under Section 53(1) of the MRTP Act in July 2010 to Kamdhenu for two major violations-unauthorized change of user, i.e. store space was changed into a commercial supermarket in the basement, and unauthorized amalgamation of shop space by demolishing the walls in the basement, ground floor and first floor. TOI has copies of the notice and the BMC's inspection report. On October 4, 2010, BMC lodged an FIR with the Versova police against Kamdhenu. Singh, who has sought documents under the Right to Information

RTI Act, said, "Once an FIR is registered, a high level criminal investigation is required, which hasn't been conducted. It's been 11 months and the police has not initiated any action." K (west) ward assistant municipal commissioner Ramesh Pawar said the ward issued a notice under the MRTP Act in July 2010 for restoration of its premises by constructing walls as per the approved plan. "But they failed to do so within 30 days," he said. "The FIR was lodged in October 2010 at Versova police station.

Kamdhenu converted 12 shops into one on the ground floor, and two shops into one on the first floor and used the premises as a shopping centre instead of convenience shops. We sent a reminder to the police after filing the FIR," said Pawar.

Sharad Borse, senior inspector, Versova police station when queried if he was aware of the BMC's FIR,

said, "I was not posted here in October 2010. I'll refer to the file and let you know tomorrow." Jagdish Patel, owner of Kamdhenu, said, "I'm not looking after this. My architect looks into this matter. I'll give you his contact number."

When TOI contacted the architect, Balabai Toraskar said, "We had sought the required approvals from the BMC's building proposal department. After the project was over, and it got the occupation certificate, we handed over the project file to the owner."