BMC clears 26 of 27 shops from BEST plot in Borivali East in anti-encroachment drive

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) carried out an anti-encroachment drive in Borivali East on Wednesday, November 4. The action took place on a 3,400 sq m plot near the BEST bus stand on Swami Vivekanand Marg.

According to an official BMC statement, 27 commercial establishments were operating on the plot, and 26 of them were removed during the action. The statement said the civic body had got 26 of the 27 establishments vacated during the drive.

The land falls under Town Planning Scheme-II. Its address is Building No. 7B, City Survey No. 15. The action against encroachment on the land was carried out by the BMC's R Central ward.

According to the BMC, about 70 labourers and staff were deployed for the demolition and debris removal. Two JCB machines and four dumpers were also stationed at the site. Further information is awaited on what action will be taken against the one remaining commercial establishment.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai Suburban district administration has also run a major drive against encroachment. Officials said that through eight major actions in Kurla, Mankhurd, Deonar, Mandale and Chembur, about 39.5 acres of government and institutional land has been taken back. The land is valued at about Rs 1,236 crore.

These actions were led by Additional Collector (Encroachment Removal) Padmakar Rokade. The targets were unauthorised commercial structures, scrap yards, godowns, shops and residential encroachments. The latest action took place on October 29, when commercial encroachments over about 8,000 sq m were cleared from land belonging to the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Development Corporation (LIDCOM) in Deonar.

The land is in Deonar village in Kurla taluka and is recorded under City Survey No. 1/A/3 and Survey No. 93. The administration removed commercial encroachments from about two acres, or 8,000 sq m, of land. The land is valued at about Rs 60 crore. According to the administration, the land has now been handed over to LIDCOM.

A senior official said satellite images of the year 2000 on Google Earth show the plot as vacant, which means it was gradually occupied later.

The action was carried out under the guidance of the Mumbai Suburban district collector and led by Rokade. It involved the Deputy Collector (Chembur), the Sub-Divisional Officer (Eastern Suburbs), the Kurla tehsildar and Revenue Department staff. The BMC provided machinery and logistical support, while police were deployed to maintain law and order.