The information sought in RTI reveals that there is about 5 thousand crore rupees investment in the ongoing unauthorized constructions in KDMC )Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation). The high level corruption that take place from the ward office employees to senior corporation officers, the local Corporators and Police system are the main factors responsible for these unauthorized constructions in KDMC area. Every day many unauthorized constructions are being protected through the support of these authorities.
Recently the KDMC Commissioner Sanjay Gharat had asked for a bribe of Rs. 47 lakh from a builder to protect the unauthorized construction of Municipal Corporation. Thus it has now cleared that the profits in this illegal business of unauthorized constructions is in billions of rupees. No concrete action is taken on unauthorized constructions. About 350 unauthorized constructions have been permitted in the last four years. The Municipal Corporation has declared the list of 3467 unauthorized constructions in last eight years. However, the KDMC has also given the information that from 2007 to 2017, there are about 1 Lakh 104 unauthorized constructions. This clearly shows difference in the statistics given by the corporation.
In connection with the 67,920 unauthorized constructions in the Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation area, the RTI activist Kaustubh Gokhale and Srinivas Ghanekar filed a PIL in the Bombay High Court in 2004. On this basis, the court appointed a committee headed by former Chief Justice Agyar to study unauthorized constructions on May 25, 2007. The committee’s work went on for three and half years. In 2010, the committee submitted its secret report to the Bombay High Court and the state government.
According to the committee’s report, the Municipal Administrative Building, the Municipal Building of People’s Representatives, and the Acharya Atre Rangamandir were found to be unauthorized. Thus KDMC is also in fault for the unauthorized construction. However, even after the report of the committee, illegal constructions did not stop.
The illegal support by politicians, mafia, developers, architects and administrators is responsible for such unauthorized constructions in the city. There are so many unauthorized or illegal constructions are going on in Kalyan-Dombivli area on open space and government land. Unauthorized constructions are also going on huge scale in 27 villages however the registration has been closed but the registration in urban areas is still going on. An inquiry committee has been appointed by the Municipal Corporation. However, no concrete action has been taken yet by this committee.
Kustubh Gokhale, RTI Activists and Petitioners
In 2004, the PIL was filed in Mumbai High Court regarding unauthorized constructions. At that time there were 67 thousand 720 illegal constructions. However, there were about one lakh unauthorized constructions in the last 14 years. It was reported that 2 lakh 51 thousand flats were closed in 2011 census. A flat is sold for 25 to 28 lakhs. So, more than 5,000 people have invested in illegal constructions. Unless the power supply given to these unauthorized constructions is not being disconnected, such constructions will not stop.
Mandar Halbe, Opposition Leader, Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation
More than 2,000 illegal constructions are underway in Kalyan, Dombivli, Titwala, Mohane and Aambivli area. About 8 to 10 thousand crore rupees are invested in illegal construction. The Municipal officers are only concerned to take bribe.
Ravi Patil, President, Builder Association, MCHI
Builders who build a building officially have to take 20 to 25 permissions. After that plan tax has to be paid. All the rules are for him only. But no permission is required to construct the unauthorized buildings; also no tax is paid by them. The illegal construction is going on five times more than the legal one; thousands of crores of rupees are being invested. This whole system is affecting the builders who are operating legally as customers are getting flats in half rates in the unauthorized building as compared to the authorized one. There is no control over the unauthorized construction. Government should speed up the concept of affordable homes by taking strategic decisions.
Govind Bodke, Commissioner, Kalyan-Dombivali Municipal Corporation
This is the fact that there are unauthorized constructions. The list of unauthorized constructions has been put on the website. We cannot deny the possibility of more unauthorized constructions in the city, but unless the construction is declared unauthorized, it cannot be posted on the website. However, the Corporation is taking strict action against the unauthorized constructions.
Unauthorized constructions of Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation from January 2010 to June 2018
A Division – 1987
B Division – 585
K Division – 202
J Division – 32
D Division – 44
F Division – 07
H Division – 120
G Division – 269
I Division – 133
E Division – 96
MMRDA – 229
Total buildings – 3704
(27 villages adopted)
