Times of India: Navi
Mumbai: Saturday, March 22, 2014.
RTI activist
and Ghansoli resident Rajiv Mishra is locked in a seven-year-old legal battle
with the civic body over the unauthorized use of 12 plots allotted by the City
and Industrial Corporation (Cidco) in various civic nodes. Navi Mumbai
Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had reportedly admitted the improper use of these
plots and even issued notices to the owners in 2007 but took no action since then.
Mishra sent
another reminder to the property and encroachment department of NMMC in
February 2014, seeking action and demanding recovery of property tax due from
these plot owners. "NMMC is entitled to levy twice the amount of property
tax as penalty for such encroachments. But the civic body is yet to take this
step," said the activist.
Curious to
know the legal validity of shops, hotels and other establishment that are
currently operational in sectors 19 E and C of Vashi, Mishra had filed an RTI
in January 2007. He sought information about 12 such plots. "Response to
the RTI query stated that these plots were meant to be used for the service
industry and constructing warehouses for agriculture products. But currently,
showrooms and hotels have come up on these plots, without any official
permission taken from the civic body for the change in use of the same,"
said Mishra.
He had also
sent a reminder to the NMMC for its failure to take action against the
structural violations happening in plots located in Vashi, Turbhe and Nerul.
Other areas where FSI violations were cited include Digha and Ishwar Nagar.
The civic
body had acknowledged the misuse of the plots and had even served notices to 22
plot owners in 2007. The activist had procured the list of notices in another
RTI filed on July 2011.
"It is
surprising that the corporation has issued notices to these plot holders,
including those, against whom I have complained and yet have failed to initiate
any action under the MRTP Act or BPMC Act to recover property tax," added
Mishra.
Claiming that
the civic body's reluctance to act is leading to huge loss of revenue, Mishra,
in November 2011, had sent a legal notice to the civic commissioner,
comptroller of unauthorized construction, Cidco and chief executive officer of
Maharashtra Industrial Estate.
A document
procured from the civic encroachment department reveals that between April 2012
and March 2013, NMMC has issued notices to 23,450 encroachments. Additionally,
the civic body has released on its website, a list of 360 illegal constructions
within its jurisdiction.
A senior
official from the encroachment department said he will look into Mishra's
queries to take appropriate action. "The notices issued in 2012-13 had to
do with minor modifications and extensions undertaken within residential
premises and the department has been acting on them. But with regard to the
specific encroachment issues raised by the activist, we have to study them
closely," added the official.
Seven years
of chase :
· January
12, 2007: Rajiv Mishra sought information from the civic body under RTI Act
regarding the use of 12 plots located in sector 19 Vashi
· February
8, 2007: NMMC responded with plot details for which they were allotted by
Cidco. Citing violations and unauthorized modifications, the activist asks the
civic body to take action
· June-
July, 2009: NMMC commissioner was sent a legal notice for inaction and later
reminded about the rampant misuse of the plots
· June,
2010: NMMC furnishes notices issued to 22 plot owners against the illegal construction
on service industry and warehouse plots, located in Vashi, Nerul and Turbhe in
2007
·
February,
2014: Another reminder sent by Mishra to NMMC seeking action
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