The Thane municipal corporation on Monday, started the demolition of seven lavish bungalows constructed in Yeoor after an internal probe revealed they were built without civic approval, officials informed.Thane-based activist Yogesh Mundhra had approached the Upa-LokAyukta in 2021 objecting to the structures that were built during the pandemic within the ‘eco-sensitive zone’ Sanjay Gandhi National Park limits. He and also feared the impact on wildlife movement.
The Thane municipal commissioner was directed to investigate the issue. “We ascertained the allegations following which it was revealed the cottages and bungalows each measuring nearly 500sqfeet were built without any permission. We have started work on demolishing three structures and will flatten the rest in the coming days,” said a civic official.
The lavish residential structures were owned by relatives of former bureaucrats and elected representatives from Thane. Mundhra had claimed that despite repeated complaints, the Thane corporation cast a blind’s eye to the construction.