Will demolish 8 illegal structures around Mumbai airport within a month: Collector to Bombay High Court

The Bombay High Court was informed on Tuesday that 8 out of 48 structures violating height restriction norms around the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport, will be demolished within a month..In an affidavit filed before the Court, the Mumbai Suburban District Collector stated that 8 structures have been identified for removal and the same has been conveyed to the Deputy Collector (Encroachment Removal). The Deputy Collector has been instructed to immediately hold a meeting and get the structures removed within a month, it was submitted..The affidavit also said that the Collector's office is facing difficulties to remove 15 structures for lack of details on the same and a letter has been addressed to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) record and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) seeking details of the 15 structures for further action.“This office is facing difficulty to remove the structure as name, address and other details of the person against whom proceeding under Rule 6 is carried out is not available with the DGCA and MIAL. …It is difficult to ascertain the exact nature and extent of the structure to cause its removal and to take action under Rule 8 of the Aircraft Rules, 1994 (demolition of illegal structures),” the affidavit stated..After a review of the site by the Suburban deputy collectors, the Collector enlisted the status of the unauthorised structures. The collector stated that these structures will be removed after the DGCA passes appropriate orders. .The affidavit was filed in response to a direction issued by a bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice MS Karnik on July 29 to initiate steps to demolish unauthorised floors and/or structures of 48 buildings around Mumbai International Airport.The directions were passed while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by advocate Yeshwant Shenoy alleging flagrant violation by developers, who the plea claimed, were permitted to construct buildings around the airport area.The PIL petition claimed that the developers breached the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) regarding the heights of the buildings and constructed structures beyond the permissible height limit..Follow Bar and Bench channel on WhatsAppDownload the Bar and Bench Mobile app for instant access to the latest legal news.