Mumbai: The BMC on Wednesday informed the Bombay High Court that its officers are not receiving police protection while removing illegal encroachments near pipelines in the city, and were facing political pressure as well.
A Division Bench comprising Justices Abhay Oka and Anil Menon was hearing a PIL on encroachments around water pipelines. In 2009, HC had appointed a committee headed by the Chief Secretary that made a plan to remove all hutments by 2015. Eligible encroachers would be rehabilitated. The court had directed the State DGP to take all steps and measures necessary to protect the pipes and remove encroachments.
On Tuesday, the civic body tendered an affidavit that listed instances where they could not carry out the demolition either due to political pressure or lack of police protection. It said, “On April 15, 2017 a demolition was to be carried out and the police refused to give bandobast for no visible reason. This is non-cooperative attitude shown by police authorities by agreeing to provide bandobast on given date and withdrawing on due demolition date under some pressures which are not known to this office officially. On April 20, 2017 the police denied to provide any protection to carry out demolition of affected huts at Ghatkopar, saying they have to maintain law and order situation.”
The affidavit mentions, “At N ward office arrangements were made like dumpers and laborers to carry out the demolition and had gone to request the senior police inspector of Tilak Nagar police station regarding providing police protection. Meanwhile, Housing Minister Prakash Mehta was present at the police station and opposed the proposed demolition action,” the affidavit read.
The court expressed displeasure over this and directed Advocate General Rohit Deo to be present for in the next hearing.
