Mumbai: The Panvel City Municipal Corporation (PCMC) on Saturday cleared 250 illegal encroachments from the Panvel State transport bus stand to the railway station, as they had stalled construction work of a flyover.
PCMC officials said the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC), which is building the flyover, had asked the civic body to help clear the encroachments.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Jamir Lengarekar said, “There was massive encroachment near the site of the flyover, due to which the construction work had been affected for long. Thus, following a request from the MSRDC, and as per the rules, a 23-metre area near the flyover has been cleared.”
Around 150 PCMC employees carried out the drive from 9 a.m. to 9.30 p.m., under complete police protection. They cleared 250 illegal shops with the help of three excavators.
However, the people who owned the shops that were demolished called the drive an “illegal use of power”. Sachin Phule, who owned a clothes shop, said, “We have been residing here and running the business for 40 years, and have paid all the taxes on time. We were not given any notice about the demolition. The corporation not only razed the shop, but even my house. Where do I go with my family in the rains?”
Amina Shiekh, who owned four shops, said, “No notice was served to us. Every year, we have been paying the tax for our shops. But this year, the corporation refused to accept the payment, saying the officers were busy with some work. Was this (the demolition) the reason? My family is completely dependent on the income from the shops. Now, where do we go?”
Calling the allegations baseless, Mr. Lengarekar said, “The MSRDC had sent them notices. The civic body had also sent notices to clear the encroachments. No houses were touched during the drive; only shops were razed.”
