Anti-encroachment cell has no staffers

There is a reason why the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (Mhada) is unable to take action on illegal encroachers: Mhada has no staffers or engineers in the ‘Encroachment Removal Cell’, which is supposed to be looking after encroachments in its property.

Currently, there are around 9,000 encroachers in the Mhada’s 56 transit camps around the city. The encroachment cell earlier had six engineers, out of which three were given additional charge in other departments and the remaining reported to work regularly.

But at least for the past 18 months, the encroachment cell just remains one to be on paper and the Mhada has not recruited anyone for it. When asked the reason behind the Mhada recruited anyone for the encroachment cell, S.S. Zende, vice-president, Mhada, said, “What is the point in having encroachment cell with just four or five engineers We do not have any machines which are used for demolishing of illegal structures and if we need any help for demolishing encroachments Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is currently helping us with machines and man power for the same.”

Currently, Mhada takes help from the BMC, which with the help of police protection acts against the illegal encroachments in its properties.

Nikhil Desai, civic activist, said, “It is an deliberate attempt to give indirect support to land grabbers. “Encroachment is a very serious issue and it is expected that Mhada should have a different dedicated department for it and not just a cell.”

When the encroachment cell of the Mhada was functional, it consisted only six to seven workers. Experts said the body should have a dedicated department equipped with all the necessary manpower and machinery support, like cranes and bulldozers to accomplish its job.

According to Ruben Mascarenhas, secretary, Aam Aadmi Party, Maharashtra, who is also an activist for keeping the open spaces of the city safe, despite the BMC having a dedicated anti-encroachment department, it is not able to take action against them.

“There is already crunch of staff in the encroachment department of BMC and now if Mhada also relies on the BMC to act I do not think it is going to help them, but indirectly it is just another way to turn a blind eye and help the encroachers continue with their anti-social activities,” he said.

However, according to an Mhada officer, “Almost every department has some or the other vacancy and also every other department has a scenario where one engineer is given additional charge of some other department.”

The official, who did not wish to be named, added, “If top officials of the Mhada are serious about tackling encroachment, I do not think having or not having a separate department makes a difference.”