Mumbai News: Clash Between BMC And MHADA Over 'Illegal' Chandivali Public Library Raises Accountability Questions

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) have contradicted each other on the issue of an illegal library built on a public amenity space in Chandivali. The structure was built by the slum improvement board of MHADA.

BMC Issues Notice Against MHADA’s Chandivali Library, Labels Structure ‘Illegal’

While the BMC has claimed that it has issued a notice against the illegal structure, MHADA denied having received any such notice.

On July 23, The Free Press Journal reported that BMC, on receipt of a complaint from a resident, issued notice to the illegal public library built by MHADA’s slum improvement board on Chandivali Farm Rd.

The disputed structure, built on the land reserved for public amenities, was illegally constructed without the mandatory no-objection certificate from the fire department which is under the BMC.

Key Construction Approvals Like IOD, CC, and Fire NOC Missing, Say Residents

Documents accessed by FPJ on BMC’s AutoDCR website revealed that the layout plan has not been approved and lacks intimation of disapproval (IOD) as well as commencement certificate (CC).

While BMC closed the resident’s complaint claiming that it has issued a notice under the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) act, MHADA has claimed that it has not received any notice from the civic body.

A clarification, issued by the authority after FPJ’s report, claimed that the project was carried out under the ‘MLA local development programme’ and received administrative permission from the suburban district collector on September 13, 2024. MHADA claimed that it started the on-ground work after receiving a no-objection certificate (NOC) from BMC on February 26, 2025.

Residents Protest Illegal Library on Reserved Land, Allege Violations of DCPR 2034

However, FPJ reported on August 12 with photographs that the local residents had staged a protest against the construction as it was carried out on a public amenities land without consultation with the residents. The authority also claimed that the structure is not illegal as it has an NOC from the civic body.

MHADA Applied for Fire NOC Post-Construction; Fire Department Rejected Requestfulfilled the statutory and mandatory requirementsHowever, it remained silent about the lack of IOD, CC and Fire NOC, which are mandatory to be obtained before commencing any construction. Notably, MHADA had sought the Fire NOC twice but the fire department did not approve it as the applications were made after completing the construction.

MHADA Denies Receiving Notice, Claims NOC Was Granted by BMC in February

“We have not received any notice from BMC. Since the work on BMC’s land was started only after receiving an NOC from the civic body, there is no possibility of the project being illegal,” read the clarification issued by MHADA’s chief public relations officer. The Free Press Journal contacted the official to seek more information about the lack of IOD, CC and fire NOC but did not receive any reply.

Earlier in June, the assistant municipal commissioner of L ward Dhanaji Herlekar had told FPJ that, “The construction has been carried out by MHADA and it needs to take care of all the necessary approvals. We have given the necessary approvals from our side.”

BMC, MHADA Pass Blame While Citizens Left in the Dark Over Protocol Violations

While the claims of both the public authorities are contradicting each other, the question remains who among the both is lying. The residents of Chandivali have expressed resentment alleging that their behaviour raises suspicion and many questions against their style of working.

Mumbai News: Chandivali’s Disputed Civic Structure Found Illegal As Fire NOC, IOD And CC Not Secured Before Construction

Chandivali Citizens’ Welfare Association Accuses MHADA of Misleading the Public

Mandeep Singh Makkar, the founder of Chandivali Citizens’ Welfare Association (CCWA), said, “MHADA is lying on record and now since it is caught off-guard, they are trying to save its face by giving frivolous reasons. They have not fulfilled the statutory and mandatory requirements as per DCPR 2034 before starting the construction work. They never thought that citizens had knowledge about the administrative protocols and would carry out due diligence on their work. If they claim that their structure is legal, we openly challenge them to prove us wrong.”