Retired judge to lead Mumbai illegal construction investigation

A retired judge will lead a new committee to investigate illegal constructions in Mumbai. Industry minister Uday Samant announced this in the state legislative council on Monday. He promised that action would be taken against government officials found guilty based on the committee’s findings. The announcement came after a member, Sachin Ahir, raised concerns about the rising number of illegal buildings in the city. Ahir asked for details about the government's actions against illegal structures in several wards, including D, E, and G-South. Minister of State Madhuri Misal reported that 7,951 complaints about illegal constructions had been received in these areas. Out of these, actions were taken against 1,211 structures. However, 2,015 cases are still pending in court, and action is yet to be initiated against 3,956 structures. Misal acknowledged that no disciplinary action had been taken against any officials responsible for controlling illegal constructions. This statement shocked many members of the council, who pointed to a possible connection between civic officials and builders. Several members expressed frustration, saying that illegal constructions persist because of this alleged collusion. They claimed that builders often evade penalties by seeking stay orders from the courts, sometimes with help from officials. In response to these concerns, Samant vowed that the government is committed to addressing the issue. He emphasized that the panel would investigate not only the illegal buildings but also any protection given to them. Additionally, a special review committee will be created within the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to review pending court cases related to these illegal structures.