With a population of 1.28 lakh packed into just 2.84 sq km, B ward is the BMC’s smallest administrative ward but with the highest population density. The enclave, which covers congested localities like Mohammad Ali Road and Dongri (where the building collapsed on Tuesday), is also a hotbed of illegal construction.
Veteran civic official told that local BMC ward staff and even the police are wary about confronting the aggressive land mafia. “There is a lot of bhaigiri here,” said the official, alluding to violence in the area that is the stronghold of the remnants of the Dawood Ibrahim gang.
On Tuesday, several mediapersons and photographers complained of being pushed around, assaulted and threatened by groups of residents gathered around the crash site.
A former corporator from this ward but did not wish to be identified said a slew of 10- to 18-storey towers have been built without any permission. The quality of construction is poor because the land mafia (powerful local builders) sells them at a rate much below the market price.
Local sources said just metres away from the collapsed building, illegal construction is going on at Nishanpada cross lane, Memonwada, Bhat Bazaar, Narayan Duruv Marg, Chavalwali Galli. At least 30 to 40 illegal buildings have come up in last five years, they added.
Describing a common modus operandi adopted by these builders, a local said landlords are paid a lump sum to acquire their properties. “Under the pretext of carrying out repairs, they demolish the building and illegally construct additional floors. An existing four-storey building is converted into a 10-storey structure,” he said.
Besides the fear factor, the dodgy builders ensure the palms of BMC, Mhada and police officials and RTI activists are greased to keep the lid firmly down on their illegal doings. If there is a complaint, the BMC serves a notice and may even demolish a bit and cut power and water for a few days, but soon a deal is struck and the builder can pick up his racket again.
According to the former corporator, the illegal boom began in 1985 and gained momentum in the subsequent decades. In the early 1990s, Demolition Man G R Khairnar, the then deputy municipal commissioner, had razed several illegal buildings, but once he was shifted out, the racket proliferated unabated.
In June 1996, six B ward officials were attacked by a large mob while conducting a demolition drive at Bhendi Bazar.
In this highly congested ward, pencil-thin towers have been built on handkerchief-size plots in narrow lanes. These buildings have zero parking and even the refuge floors are sold as flats, said sources. Due to high demand for both houses and commercial places, illegal construction is booming in Dongri, Pydhonie, Masjid Bunder, Null Bazaar, Nagdevi street and Abdul Rahman street. “These fly-by-night builders never seek building permissions and utilise the maximum space without leaving any compulsory open space,” said Shaukat Bhai, a local resident.
Local sources said just metres away from the collapsed building, illegal construction is going on at Nishanpada cross lane, Memonwada, Bhat Bazaar, Narayan Duruv Marg, Chavalwali Galli. At least 30 to 40 illegal buildings have come up in last five years, they added.
A Dawood aide who was deported from UAE is believed to be involved in the illegal construction. “If somebody complains, he threatens them. So nobody dares to come forward,” said a civic official. In 2016, following media reports, the BMC had torn down gangster Tariq Parveen’s unauthorised construction in B ward.
