HC asks for ATR against illegal bungalows along Alibaug beach

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has directed the state government to submit details of action taken against illegal private constructions along beaches in Alibaug in Raigad district within two weeks.

A division bench of Justice Naresh Patil and Justice M.S. Karnik was hearing a petition filed by activist Surendra Dhawale, seeking directions to the concerned authorities to demolish all unauthorised constructions located within the “low and high tide areas” in many villages of Alibaug. The petitioner alleged that such constructions were carried out in violation of the Maha-rashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority rules and land laws of the state government. According to the plea, around 175 private residences “belonging to several wealthy persons, including Nirav Modi and several businessmen and film actors,” fell under the CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone) areas.

At a previous hearing, the court had directed the state government to demolish or take other appropriate action against such illegal structures.

On November 29, the state government submitted that it had failed to demolish most of the illegal structures. Governme-nt counsel P.B. Kakade told the bench that the owners of most of the structures identified as illegal by the state authorities had moved various courts, challenging the state’s demolition notice. “In most cases, there exist stay orders from various courts. Therefore, we have been unable to take any demolition or other punitive action against the illegal constructions,” Kakade said.

At this, the bench directed the state authorities to submit details of the act-ion taken by them as well as details of the illegal pr-operties that had secured stay orders. “Also inform us of the action taken against properties whose status is not sub judice,” the bench said.