BMC rapped for razing workstation

Structure belonged to Juhu lifeguards.

The Bombay high court on Tuesday rapped the BMC for illegally demolishing a workstation of lifeguards at Juhu beach. The HC has also asked the BMC to file an affidavit containing NOC to the lifeguards for building a workstation at Juhu beach.

The HC was hearing a petition filed by Juhu Beach Life Guard Association stating that their workstation was demolished by the BMC without giving show cause notice to them.

The association has demanded action against concerned officers and has also asked for reimbursement of '66 lakh to buy equipments destroyed in the drive.

In the last hearing, the court had asked the BMC to file a reply on the petition. On Tuesday, BMC counsel told the court that demolition was done by Airport Authority of India (AAI), while the BMC had provided manpower and equipments.

Reprimanding the BMC, the court stated, “You had acted on oral complaints of local MLA and AAI. This is not the way to demolish illegal structures. If any individual approaches you and asked orally to demolish illegal structures, will you demolish it ”

The court further pointed out the MRTP Act and BMC Act, which it said the BMC should have looked at before taking further step the provision under it.

Justice Abhay Oka warned the BMC, saying, “If you are not ready to build the work station voluntarily, we will call the BMC commissioner to court.”

He also asked the body to file an affidavit in which it would give an NOC to build the structure and mention that it had acted upon oral complaints from the local MLA and AAI.