Now Reading: Nalasopara plot cleared of illegal buildings becomes garbage dump
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Nalasopara plot cleared of illegal buildings becomes garbage dump
A 60-acre plot in Nalasopara East, reserved for a sewage treatment plant (STP), has been turned into a garbage dump a year after the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) demolished 41 unauthorised buildings there. Locals report that at least 30 garbage-disposal vehicles of VVCMC contractors regularly dump rubbish on the site, causing unbearable stench and health issues for residents of adjacent legitimate settlements.
The plot was originally grabbed in 2006 by former corporator Sitaram Gupta, who allegedly sold 30 acres of private and 30 acres of government land to builders using fake documents and constructed 41 illegal buildings between 2010 and 2012. After demolition, evicted flat owners approached the high court, which warned against fresh commercial transactions on the cleared land and directed the VVCMC not to grant construction permission without court approval.
Social activist Rajendra Gawde criticised the VVCMC for not setting up the STP and for illegally using the plot as a dumping yard. VVCMC commissioner Prithviraj B P acknowledged the issue and said the garbage will be removed and the STP plan is in motion.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The Agarwal Nagar case shows how land reserved for public utilities can become a flashpoint between illegal colonisation and municipal neglect. The 60-acre plot was meant for a sewage treatment plant to serve Vasai-Virar's growing population, but after demolitions removed 41 illegal buildings housing 8,500 people, the corporation had no alternative disposal site. Gokhivare-Bhoidapada, the official dumping ground, already holds 1.5 million metric tonnes of waste and receives 1,000-1,200 metric tonnes daily. The evicted flat owners have a pending high court case, the next direction from the court will determine whether the land is used for its original purpose or sold to developers.
Source: hindustantimes.com
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