‘Demolition man’ of Versova shunted, says finished tenure | Mumbai News – Times of India
MUMBAI: BMC on Friday transferred its K-West ward officer Prithviraj Chavan, under whose supervision the demolition drive against illegal structures on marshy land and coastal regulation zones in Versova began nearly a fortnight ago.
Chavan, who had on June 7 suspended a sub-engineer for not acting against the illegal buildings, said he had completed his tenure of three years at the ward.“I am grateful that I could serve there,” he said.
He has been sent to F-North ward, in place of ward officer Chakrapani Alle, who has now taken charge of K-West.
While the civic administration-and Chavan-called his transfer a routine administrative procedure, activists alleged that he paid the price for cracking down on the unauthorised structures.
So far, seven illegal under-construction buildings in Versova, some of which were raised up to three floors, have been razed under the demolition drive. There was another set of structures set to be brought down on Friday, but owing to lack of police protection, the action was deferred, said a civic official. K-West covers Versova, Oshiwara, Lokhandwala and Yari Road.
Chavan had told TOI earlier that had the illegal buildings been allowed to remain, they could have caused tremendous loss of life and property in case of a disaster.
Filmmaker and activist Ashoke Pandit alleged that there had been political pressure to transfer Chavan. “We had requested chief minister Eknath Shinde online not to transfer him, at least at this point of time (when the demolition drive is still underway). The administration has lost citizens’ confidence by transferring an officer who was doing good work.”
Saket Ojha, a resident, questioned the administration’s move to transfer the officer who “was acting against the land mafia”, instead of supporting him, adding that illegal structures in the area have grown 10-fold in recent times. “We, the residents, plan to register our protest against the transfer,” he said.
BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said the drive against illegal structures will continue.
Chavan, who had on June 7 suspended a sub-engineer for not acting against the illegal buildings, said he had completed his tenure of three years at the ward.“I am grateful that I could serve there,” he said.
He has been sent to F-North ward, in place of ward officer Chakrapani Alle, who has now taken charge of K-West.
While the civic administration-and Chavan-called his transfer a routine administrative procedure, activists alleged that he paid the price for cracking down on the unauthorised structures.
So far, seven illegal under-construction buildings in Versova, some of which were raised up to three floors, have been razed under the demolition drive. There was another set of structures set to be brought down on Friday, but owing to lack of police protection, the action was deferred, said a civic official. K-West covers Versova, Oshiwara, Lokhandwala and Yari Road.
Chavan had told TOI earlier that had the illegal buildings been allowed to remain, they could have caused tremendous loss of life and property in case of a disaster.
Filmmaker and activist Ashoke Pandit alleged that there had been political pressure to transfer Chavan. “We had requested chief minister Eknath Shinde online not to transfer him, at least at this point of time (when the demolition drive is still underway). The administration has lost citizens’ confidence by transferring an officer who was doing good work.”
Saket Ojha, a resident, questioned the administration’s move to transfer the officer who “was acting against the land mafia”, instead of supporting him, adding that illegal structures in the area have grown 10-fold in recent times. “We, the residents, plan to register our protest against the transfer,” he said.
BMC commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said the drive against illegal structures will continue.
