Latest news with #MumbaiMunicipalCorporationAct
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
HC orders demolition of illegal 6-storey building in Kalyan
MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has directed the Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Corporation (KDMC) to take appropriate steps to demolish an illegal six-storeyed building at Govindwadi in Kalyan within two months. A demolition notice was issued to the building in August 2024, but no action was taken against it thereafter, which could embolden others to construct similar buildings without first obtaining the necessary permissions, the court said, (Shutterstock) The division bench of justices GS Kulkarni and Arif Doctor was hearing a petition filed by Safwan Jafar Hussain Sayyad, a local resident. On July 23, 2024, Sayyad had filed a complaint with the ward officer of ward 3C and the KDMC commissioner, claiming a ground-plus-six storeyed building, Siyam Villa, had been constructed illegally without any planning permission, and requested the civic authorities to take appropriate action against it. Accordingly, on August 6, 2024, KDMC officials issued a show cause notice to the builder, asking them to explain during a personal hearing if the said building was a legal structure and provide supporting documents. Failure to provide an explanation and documents would result in appropriate legal action, the builder was told. Since Sayyad's complaint was not addressed over the next two months, in October 2024, he submitted a representation to civic officials and subsequently approached the high court, contending that the inaction made it clear that KDMC officers were hand-in-glove with the developer. Section 260 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act mandates that the municipal bodies must take action against illegally constructed buildings and accordingly, the KDMC should take the demolition notice to its logical end, the plea stated. The developer resisted the petition, contending that they had applied to the KDMC for regularisation of the building in July 2024 and since the application was pending, there was no question of taking any action during pendency of the plea. Being owners of the plot on which the building stood, they had constructed the building adhering to Floor Space Index norms and pursuant to their application for its regularisation, the assistant commissioner, KDMC, had issued a notice dated February 24, 2025, granting them a personal hearing, the developer said. However, responding to a court query, the developer's counsel conceded that no planning permission had been obtained before commencing construction of the building. 'The said building being wholly illegal, must first be demolished, and after which, the developers if they so desire may apply for a permission, and if such permission is sanctioned, carry on construction in accordance with such permission,' the court said. The bench directed the KDMC to execute the demolition notice issued in August 2024 within two months by following due processes of law.
India Today
5 days ago
- India Today
Who blessed pan shop? High Court pulls up Mumbai civic body for footpath stall
The Bombay High Court has directed the Municipal Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to investigate the role of civic officials who allegedly "blessed" the existence of an illegal pan, bidi and gutka stall set up on a footpath outside a housing society in court not only ordered the immediate removal of the unauthorised structure but also instructed the Municipal Commissioner to initiate an enquiry into officials who failed to act against the encroachment for over six division bench comprising Justices G S Kulkarni and Arif S Doctor was hearing a petition filed by Nirvana Housing Society. The petition alleged that despite the BMC demolishing the illegal stall in November 2019, it had resurfaced and continued to operate without any valid license or permission. An inspection report dated July 17, 2023, confirmed the existence of the stall, which lacked both health and trade BMC informed the court that a notice had been issued to the stall operator on July 23, 2025, under the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, giving 48 hours for voluntary removal. Failing compliance, the civic body stated it would proceed with represented by legal counsel, the stall owner failed to file a reply affidavit. The court noted this as a tacit admission of the stall's the structure a 'rank unauthorised' encroachment, the bench underscored that footpaths are public spaces meant for pedestrian use and cannot be appropriated for private profit. The court also questioned how the stall obtained an electricity connection and why BMC officials had not taken suo motu action earlier."Such lawlessness cannot be permitted," the bench observed, directing the Municipal Commissioner to issue show-cause notices to the Ward Officer, Assistant Commissioner and relevant Field Officers. The court also ordered that a compliance report be filed by September 4, matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 29, 2025, when the court will review the status of the stall's removal and the progress of the internal enquiry.- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Mumbai
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Residents storm M-east ward office in protest against hospital privatisation
MUMBAI: On Monday, around 200 residents and activists marched from Samvidhan Chowk in Lallubhai Compound to the M-East ward office, protesting the proposed privatisation of two newly constructed civic hospitals. Residents see the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as the final blow after years of inadequate public healthcare. 'There were times when pregnant women and infants were referred from one hospital to another at the risk of their lives due to a shortage of resources at the nearest hospital,' said Ajma Sheikh, a Maharashtra Nagar resident for 15 years. ' The point is to strengthen existing services,' she added. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai The M-East ward faces a high burden of tuberculosis, malnutrition, and respiratory illnesses. Of its 8 lakh residents—mostly project-affected families of daily wage workers—only Shatabdi Hospital in Shivaji Nagar, with 220 beds, is functional. Its 10-bed ICU was shut for months. Since May, BMC tried to hand over the newly built 580-bed teaching hospital on the Shatabdi campus under PPP. Due to insufficient bids, tenders were repeatedly extended. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Glicemia acima de 100? Ele usou isso Saúde Nacional Undo The same applies to Lallubhai Compound Hospital, which took a decade to build and remains unused. Under the proposed PPP, BMC plans to run only 150 of 410 beds there. Among the protesters was former Mumbai Mayor Nirmala Samant-Prabhavalkar. 'As per the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, and the 74th Constitutional Amendment, it is BMC's legal duty to provide public healthcare. As one of the richest civic bodies in the country, it can fulfil this responsibility,' she said. She is part of a coalition of 25 political and civil society groups, including Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, under the 'Aspatal Bachao, Niji Karan Hatao' campaign. Their six demands include filling all healthcare vacancies and holding monthly public health reviews with residents. Dr Chandrakant Pawar, Chief Medical Superintendent of peripheral hospitals, was unavailable for comment. M-East Ward MOH Dr Pradeep Kashale said, 'We've heard their demands, but these are policy decisions. I'm trying to arrange a meeting between the protesters, Dr Pawar, and the DMC Health.'
United News of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- United News of India
HC dismiss PIL challenging move to convert Mayor bungalow into Thackeray memorial
Mumbai, July 1 (UNI) The Bombay High Court on Tuesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) challenging the Maharashtra government's decision of 2017 to convert an old Mumbai mayor bungalow at Shivaji Park in Dadar area of central Mumbai into a memorial for late Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray. The division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Sandeep V Marne dismissed the petition during the hearing of the PIL filed by social activist Bhagwanji Riyani, challenging the decision, claiming that the proposed construction violated the Environmental Protection Act and the Coastal Zone Regulation notification. The petitioners also claimed that since the bungalow, built in 1928, is a heritage structure, it cannot be converted into a memorial. The PIL before the court also challenged the state government's decision to allocate ₹100 crore as a budget for setting up the memorial. The PIL also assailed an amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act by which BMC was allowed to leave an immovable property of the corporation to any person at a nominal rate of ₹1 per annum. The petition said that the entire machinery was being moved for a private individual when the amount could be used for other important things. The Maharashtra government in its response said it was the state's discretion to allot land and money for the memorial. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) also defended the construction and told the High Court that all requisite permissions were obtained and procedures followed before allotting land for the memorial. In its affidavit filed before the High Court, the BMC stated that due process of law had been followed before allotting land for the memorial in Mumbai at a nominal rate. The bench passed the order after hearing both petitioner and respondents at length. UNI AAA PRS
Hindustan Times
01-06-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
Mumbai property tax rises by 15% on average; flats under 500 sq ft remain exempt
The Mumbai Civic body, also known as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), has restructured property tax in the Mumbai real estate market by an average of almost 16%, according to a statement issued by the corporation. According to BMC, there has been no amendment or increase in the structure or rate of property tax. However, due to ready reckoner rates in Mumbai increasing from FY26, the property tax automatically stands to be increased, owing to the base of capital value going upwards. To cite an example, if the annual property tax for a flat owner was ₹50,000, it would now be above ₹57,500. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has increased property tax for the first time in nearly a decade. The last revision took place in 2015, but the scheduled hike in 2020 was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Under Section 154 (1C) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, the capital value of properties must be revised every five years, which typically leads to an increase in property tax. Also Read: Major relief for homeowners: ITAT rules redeveloped flats not taxable as 'other income' According to the BMC, flats smaller than 500 sq ft have been exempted from property tax since 2022, and the decision taken earlier remains as it is. Hence, the BMC clarified that there is zero levy on these flats. There are 4,00,000 housing societies in Mumbai. BMC individually issues property tax bills to flat owners. The Maharashtra government announced in 2022 that it would waive property tax for flats below 500 sq ft, a move that it said would help citizens save ₹460 crore annually. Also Read: Mumbai's unsold luxury housing inventory rises 36% in Q1 2025 after two-year decline: ANAROCK The BMC announced on May 29 in a statement that it has deferred its much-debated fee on solid waste management, or garbage tax, in view of the increase in property tax. According to the BMC, the user fee was meant to cover the daily collection of solid waste from individual homes as well as commercial and industrial establishments. The levy was proposed in April; the fee ranges from ₹100 to ₹7,500, depending on the size and nature of the establishment. Also Read: Housing sales in top 15 Tier 2 cities fall 8%, sales value up 6% in Q1 2025: Report However, in view of the increase in property tax, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde decided to defer the levy of the garbage fee.
