Even as Congress leader Janet D’Souza was accused of encroaching upon an open space abutting the Little Flower High School, Ghatkopar, civic officials are now alleging that local NCP corporator Haroon Khan was exerting pressure on them to ignore the same.
A week ago, this paper reported that residents of Amrut Nagar in Ghatkopar were alleging that Ms D’Souza, who is also a former vice-president of state minorities commission, has allegedly encroached upon on open space (stretch of land) adjacent to the school named Little Flower High School where she is also the principal.
They also said Ms D’Souza used the encroached open space to rent out the same for birthday parties and wedding ceremonies. Also, Ms D’Souza was allegedly extending the school boundary for which the BMC had issued a stop-work notice on May 18 this year.
However, the N ward officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) now allege that local NCP corporator Haroon Khan is putting political pressure on the ward officials to not take any action against the illegal structure. Mr Khan, though, has denied the allegations.
Initially, the BMC officials from the N ward had claimed that they had been unable to stop the illegal construction post stop-work notice because the police was not giving them protection to carry out demolition. Rajendra Kulkarni, senior police inspector, Vikhroli Parkside police station, denied this allegation. He told this paper on May 20, 2016; “We have already provided 165 police officials to give protection to the BMC for carrying out the demolition.”
A BMC official from N ward later requesting anonymity said, “At times because of political pressure we are unable to take action. In this case, it is the local corporator who has told us not to take any action. We are helpless.”
Rizwan Shaikh, a local from the area, said, “When I had approached our corporator to complain against the encroachment, he told me he would help us in settling the matter between both the parties. He said he cannot help us with demolition of the illegal structure.”
Mr Khan, the corporator from N ward, denied all allegations. “I have not put any pressure on BMC officials, nor have I told any resident about settlement. If there is encroachment on an open space in my area, I will myself ask the BMC to take action on the illegal construction,” he said.
