Two BJP corporators remove illegal constructions on their own

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Two BJP corporators from Cidco Ganesh Navandar and Vishwanath Swami on Sunday voluntarily began removing portions of their alleged illegal constructions after the civic administration issued notices regarding encroachments.

The move comes in the backdrop of the chhatrapati sambhajinagar municipal corporation’s demolition action against two illegal houses of corporator Matin Patel, who allegedly sheltered Nida Khan, an accused in the Nashik TCS conversion case. Following that action, AIMIM had demanded similar action against illegal constructions of other corporators in the city. Complaints regarding unauthorised constructions by several corporators had earlier been submitted to the civic body by defeated election candidates and social activists. Complaints were reportedly filed against 15 AIMIM corporators and two BJP corporators, though no action had been taken earlier. According to civic officials, both BJP corporators had allegedly carried out unauthorised constructions on Cidco plots without obtaining permission from the municipal corporation. Vishwanath Swami had allegedly constructed a two-storey building on Plot Nos. 1 and 1(A) in N-5, originally reserved for a kiosk, while Ganesh Navandar had constructed a three-storey structure on shoplet plots in N-5 F Sector. Complaints also alleged encroachment on a drain in Navandar’s case. With the possibility of demolition action by the civic body, both corporators started removing the disputed portions of the structures from Sunday morning. “We removed the additional construction following instructions from party leaders after complaints were made against us,” said Ganesh Navandar, corporator from Ward No. 10(K). Vishwanath Swami said he had legally purchased additional 1.1 FSI from Cidco and paid a fee of Rs 98,215, but could not submit the revised building plan to the corporation on time. He claimed that only 350 to 400 sq ft of construction was being removed as part of renovation work.