Dinesh Kamath's news item 'Illegal buildings in the city to face action as directed by Centre' that was published in Newsband

Illegal buildings in the city to face action as directed by Centre

By Dinesh Kamath

NAVI MUMBAI: The state coastal body will be in the lookout for buildings in Navi Mumbai that have been built without the requisite coastal clearance. The Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) is waiting for the Centre to direct them on how to proceed against these violations.

There are quite many buildings in Navi Mumbai which are violators. Union environment minister Jayanthi Natarajan had refused to regularise these buildings. Since the construction of the buildings can have adverse effect on the environment, the Environment Protection Act (EPA), 1986 can be applicable to these buildings. As soon as the Navi Mumbai municipal corporation will submit the complete report about the violating buildings, it will be decided as to what action should be taken against them.

The buildings constructed after 2002 will have to face action. It is yet to be pinpointed as to whether it was the local planning body or the developers who were at fault.

Earlier, two orders, one for appraising projects that were constructed without the requisite green clearances and the other to prosecute developer under section 15 of EPA were issued by the ministry of environment and forests.