High court fines officials for lax demolitions in Lonavla ………Yogesh Naik I TNN
Lonavla: Demolition of illegal structures in the hill towns of Lonavla and Khandala has gathered momentum after the HC fined three officials, including the urban development secretary, for not taking action in this regard.
However, the Lonavla Khandala Citizens Forum (LKCF), which had filed a case against the Lonavla Municipal Council (LMC) accusing the council of apathy, said bigger offenders, including resorts and hotels were being spared as their demolitions were only cosmetic. LMC chief Sunil Lahane said the administration was carrying out demolitions at a fast pace and only 275 of the 773 illegal structures were remaining.
A PIL had been filed in 2007 against the burgeoning illegal structures in Lonavla, which led to flooding and bad roads. The HC had warned the LMC twice and asked it to take stringent action. On January 29, 2009, the HC asked LMC to undertake a massive demolition drive. However, unhappy with the action being taken, it fined the urban development secretary Manukumar Srivastava, LMC chief Sunil Lahane and the LMC administrative officer Ashok Jadhav Rs 3,000 each on February 12.
Fergus Misquitta of the LKCF said the resorts and hotels were being given special treatment and demolition for these structures was only cosmetic. Residents had told Srivastava that the LMC had not filed caveats. But Lahane said many offenders had moved the court for a stay and the LMC had to file its reply each time. Some of the offenders, including hotel owners, have got stays from a local court.
LKCF chief Jaideep Samarth said the PIL has brought in some accountability. Things were chaotic before the PIL. People had no concern for the environment and the LMC staff never checked the unauthorised structures. One of the hotels which was demolished is back in business. However, the Lonavla Market, Khandala Lake and the road along the railway track have been cleared. Lahane said the demolitions would be over by the next hearing on March 12.