Eight drives clear 39.5 acres of government land worth Rs 1,236 crore in Mankhurd, Deonar, Chembur

The Mumbai Suburban district administration has carried out eight major anti-encroachment drives in Kurla, Mankhurd, Deonar, Mandale and Chembur. About 39.5 acres of government and institutional land has been reclaimed, valued at roughly Rs 1,236 crore, officials said.

The campaign was led by Additional Collector (Encroachment Removal) Padmakar Rokade. Action was taken against unauthorised commercial structures, scrap yards, warehouses, shops and residential encroachments. The latest drive took place in Deonar on October 29, when commercial encroachments over about 8,000 square metres of land owned by the Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe Vikas Mahamandal (LIDCOM) were removed.

The land is in Deonar village in Kurla taluka and is recorded as City Survey No. 1/A/3 and Survey No. 93. The administration cleared commercial encroachment from about two acres (8,000 square metres), valued at about Rs 60 crore. According to the administration, the plot has now been handed over to LIDCOM.

A senior official said satellite images from Google Earth for the year 2000 showed the plot as vacant. It was encroached upon gradually afterwards.

The action was carried out under the guidance of the Mumbai Suburban Collector and under Rokade's leadership. The Deputy Collector (Chembur), the Sub-Divisional Officer (Eastern Suburbs), the Kurla tehsildar and revenue department staff took part. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) provided machinery and other help. Police were deployed to maintain law and order.

According to the administration's records, the Deonar action is part of a larger campaign to remove encroachments from public land. The major actions so far are as follows:

Mankhurd, Bombay Soap Company area: On April 8 and 9, 2026, 11 acres of government land was cleared. After complaints of fresh encroachment, another drive was held on April 29, in which about 200 temporary huts and two permanent structures were removed. The land, reserved for a central prison, is valued at about Rs 330 crore.

Kurla and Mandale scrap area: On June 11, about 14 acres of government land was freed of encroachment, including reclaimed land at Mauje Mankhurd. About 100 to 110 unauthorised warehouses and shops were removed. The land is valued at about Rs 420 crore and is yet to be allotted.

Mankhurd, unauthorised construction: The administration has recorded the removal of 1,844 square metres of unauthorised construction on the property with CTS No. 676/A. The land is valued at about Rs 5.4 crore and is yet to be allotted.

Deonar, Shakila Ansari compound: On May 19, about 22 unauthorised huts were removed from 200 square metres of government land. The property is valued at about Rs 60 lakh and is yet to be allotted.

Mankhurd, Tata Power land: On June 30, about four acres of government land along Tata Power's transmission corridor was cleared. It is valued at Rs 120 crore. Because high-tension power lines pass overhead, the land cannot be allotted.

Chembur, Shankar Colony: On August 25, the administration removed illegal structures from about 2.10 acres of government land near the Shankar Colony drain, opposite Indian Oil Nagar. The land is valued at about Rs 120 crore.

Mankhurd, Children's Aid Society area: On September 10, encroachments including warehouses and shops were removed from six acres of government land. The remaining residential encroachments were cleared on October 27. The land, valued at about Rs 180 crore, is reserved for the Kurla/Children's Aid Society.

Deonar, LIDCOM property: On October 29, illegal construction debris and a tin fence were removed from about two acres of commercial land. The property, valued at about Rs 60 crore, was handed over to LIDCOM.

Officials said such large demolitions and clearances require coordination among the revenue department, police and the municipal corporation. The Additional Collector (Encroachment Removal) for the Eastern Suburbs supervises the campaign. The Deputy Collector (Encroachment Removal), Chembur, along with the local sub-divisional officers and tehsildars, handles the work on the ground. Police are deployed for law and order, while the BMC provides heavy machinery and technical help for demolition and debris removal.

Rokade said the eight drives reflect the administration's action against unauthorised residential and commercial occupation in Mankhurd, Mandale, Chembur and Deonar. He said the latest Deonar action shows the administration's emphasis on planned action involving several agencies. He described the reclaiming of about 39.5 acres worth Rs 1,236 crore as a major success.

The administration said it will continue to identify illegal occupation and coordinate clearance drives. The aim is to make public land available again for its designated use.