Aarey Colony Crackdown Intensifies: Over 350 Illegal Structures Removed, Slumlords Face FIR Action
Mumbai: The battle to protect the environmentally sensitive Aarey Colony has intensified, with authorities taking strict action against illegal constructions and those allegedly responsible for encouraging encroachments in the area.
Since March, around 12 FIRs have been registered against slumlords accused of rebuilding unauthorised structures in Aarey Colony despite repeated demolition drives. Aarey Colony CEO Shrikant Shipurkar, who initiated these cases, said that another set of complaints against anti-social elements involved in illegal construction activities is also being prepared.
Shipurkar said the FIRs have been registered under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), while efforts are also underway to take action under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act.
According to officials, more than 350 unauthorised structures have been demolished across Aarey Colony since March. However, authorities claim that the illegal structures often return because certain individuals allegedly rebuild them after demolitions.
“These repeated constructions are a major challenge. The involvement of slumlords makes enforcement more difficult,” Shipurkar said.
The Aarey administration has also highlighted manpower shortages as a major hurdle in controlling encroachments, illegal debris dumping, and unauthorised hawking activities. Nearly 800 acres of Aarey Colony has been declared forest land, making protection of the area a priority.
Officials said that stopping illegal activities in the eco-sensitive zone requires coordination between multiple agencies, including the forest department, BMC, police, and Aarey authorities.
Meanwhile, a proposal by local MP Ravindra Waikar to install a flag post near Unit Number 5 in Aarey has also come under scrutiny. Authorities informed him that permission would only be granted after approval from the High-Powered Committee (HPC) overseeing the eco-sensitive zone.
Waikar had questioned why strict rules were being applied to certain proposals while illegal constructions continued in Aarey. In response, officials said that the area falls under an eco-sensitive zone and all permissions must follow government guidelines.
Aarey currently has around 46 locations containing tribal settlements and slum areas spread across nearly 180 acres. The Maharashtra government has proposed relocating eligible tribal and slum residents to a rehabilitation site near Vanrai along the Western Express Highway, covering about 33.6 acres.
The proposed rehabilitation plan aims to free up nearly 180 acres of land in Aarey for environmental protection. The Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA) has been asked to conduct a biometric survey of residents living in these settlements to identify eligible beneficiaries.
With increasing focus on preserving Aarey’s forest ecosystem, authorities say stronger enforcement and coordinated action will be needed to prevent further illegal development in the green zone.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
