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Bombay HC gives Raigad Collector six weeks to raze illegal bungalows on Alibaug beaches

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social organisation Shamburaje Yuva Kranti in 2009 over the violation of Coastal Regulatory Zone norms by prominent businessmen and industrialists in the construction of more than 175 bungalows.

Alibaug beaches, Alibaug beach, Bombay High Court, High Court of Mumbai, beaches in Alibaug, Mumbai news, City news, Indian Express Mandwa beach in Raigad. (File Photo)

The Bombay High Court on Monday gave the Raigad District Collector six weeks to demolish five bungalows constructed illegally on the beaches of Alibaug.

Justice S C Dharmadhikari and Justice Riyaz Chagla had directed Raigad Collector Vijay Suryawanshi to be present in court after previously making their displeasure known towards district administration officials for skipping hearings.

The bench was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by social organisation Shamburaje Yuva Kranti in 2009 over the violation of Coastal Regulatory Zone norms by prominent businessmen and industrialists in the construction of more than 175 bungalows.

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Following the PIL and the issuance of notices, however, owners of 111 bungalows approached a civil court in Alibaug seeking relief. A status quo has been imposed in 106 cases, the court was informed. The bench directed the Collector to assist the civil court in quick disposal of pending cases.

In his affidavit, Suryawanshi stated that the district administration has identified a total of 159 unauthorised structures and has so far demolished 22 of them. Further, following directions from the HC to move the civil court, Suryawanshi said that civil miscellaneous appeals have been filed in 74 cases so far , and that the rest would be filed shortly.

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Assistant Government Pleader P P Kakade told the court that of the five bungalows on which a status quo was not imposed, one has already been demolished, while another one, owned by businessman Ashok Mittal, is in the process of being demolished. The other three bungalows, Kakade told the court, would be demolished in the next three weeks.

The Collector also informed the court that he was reviewing the manner in which permission for the construction of 16 bungalows was granted by the district administration.

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Suryawanshi also stated in his affidavit that the Sub Divisional Officer, Alibaug, was unable to attend the hearing on October 10 as she was appointed as a Returning Officer for Alibaug Constituency. Stressing that the SDO had regularly attended court until then, Suryawanshi added that a cyclone prevented her from doing so on November 6.

While posting the matter for hearing on December 13, Justice Dharmadhikari asked the Collector to ensure that there would be no more illegal construction in Alibaug.

First uploaded on: 12-11-2019 at 01:57 IST
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