A technical snag in the JCB used by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to demolish the illegal structures that had come up in the 50 acres of mangroves in Charkop on Monday has reportedly played spoilsport.
After demolishing about 10 per cent of the structures that the BMC was supposed to demolish during its round in Laxminagar, there was a leakage of fuel from the JCB, which led to an abrupt end of the demolition drive.
According to Sahebrao Gaikwad, assistant commissioner of R south ward, this incident has led to a delay in completion of the demolition work by a week. “Police orders were taken for the day to carry out the drive but as fuel was leaking from the JCB, we could not continue with the demolition.”
He also said, “It may take at least another week to get orders from the police again before we can continue with clearing away the illegal hutments.”
Environmentalists and residents however, see this incident as the civic body’s lack of enthusiasm. “The workers came in around noon and by around 3 pm they left. Less than 10 per cent of the area that they were supposed to clear up has been demolished. The debris is also lying there and it’s easy for the encroachers to re-build their structures with these materials,” said Reji Abraham, president of local NGO United Association for Social, Education and Public Welfare. “Also, why could the BMC not keep another JCB on standby Their reason for delaying the demolition is just an excuse for them to not carry on with the work,” he said.
