Shiv Sena And BMC Clash Over Illegal Encroachments on Footpath!

The Shiv Sena and BMC came at loggerheads when the BMC T-Ward’s Encroachment Demolition Squad tried to demolish an illegal vada-pav stall opposite Mehul cinema footpath on Wednesday. However, before BMC T-Ward could demolish the vada-pav stall, Shishir Shinde, Ex-MLA and Shiv Sena leader reached the spot and stopped the BMC action, demanding BMC to first take action on larger issues of the suburb like illegal shops on R.R.T. Road and illegal parking near the footpath!!

It may be noted that Bhagat Vada-Pav is a huge eatery doing brisk business on the footpath opposite Mehul Cinema circle for many years. This business is owned by a prominent Shiv Sena Shakha Pramukh. Hence, despite being illegal, nobody has ever dared to lodge a complaint against this vada-pav shop. However, recently, BMC received a complaint against the shop. Hence, on Wednesday, November 28, 2018, the Encroachment Demolition Squad of BMC T-Ward reached the spot to take action.

On reaching the spot, the BMC squad started collecting all the materials that were kept on the footpath into the BMC van. But, before they could start the demolition process, Shishir Shinde, ex-MLA and Shiv Sena leader reached the spot and stopped the BMC action! Shishir Shinde was accompanied by a group of Shiv Sainiks.

Confronting the top officer of the BMC T-Ward Encroachment Demolition Squad, Shishir Shinde asked them to stop the demolition and instead challenged them to take action against the illegal shops on R.R.T. Road that have encroached upon the footpath and made life impossible for the pedestrians. He demanded the top BMC officials to first take action against them and later take action against his vada-pav shop.

Shinde told an officer, “The R.R.T. Road is packed with illegal encroachments on the footpath. Junk food stall vendors openly use gas cylinders, which are hazardous for the residents and people walking on the road. Secondly, the other side of the footpath is encroached by illegal parking. Go and first root out these grave issues and later show your strength on poor vada-pav vendors.”

When Home Times spoke to the people in the vicinity of Mehul cinema, they claimed that most of the roads in Mulund are encroached upon by food vendors due to the poor action by BMC. A resident told Home Times, “There is a tendency amongst the people to encroach the footpaths. Actually, keeping footpaths free from illegal encroachment is the duty of BMC but, alas, the action by BMC is just eyewash. It lasts for a few hours and soon the hawkers are back in action. In fact, hawkers have neither fear of the BMC nor they fear breaking government norms. Until and unless the hawkers are meted out stringent punishment, they will not take BMC action seriously.”

Sheds put up in monsoon still not removed 

 

BMC had given three months’ permission to hotels, balconies and terraces of housing societies to put up sheds to prevent water from entering their premises. But, more than three months have passed, yet these sheds have not been removed. People inform that despite complaining, the BMC Encroachment Dept. ignores the issue.

Regarding this issue, a senior citizen, Prathamesh Jog told Home Times, “Frankly speaking, it is the duty of citizens to remove the sheds after the three months’ deadline.  But still if they do not remove them, of course, BMC must take action and demolish the sheds. But the action must be similar to all and not biased.”

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