Mira Bhayandar old villages were inspected on Thursday by senior Urban Development Department officials as the state examined reconstruction difficulties faced by residents and the protection of gaothans and tribal hamlets in the city. The inspection was attended by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, Mira Bhayandar Municipal Commissioner Radhabinod Sharma, and officials from the revenue and forest departments.
The inspection followed complaints from residents that government rules were making it difficult to repair or rebuild ageing homes in the city’s old villages. According to the report, some villagers have been carrying out repairs or reconstruction without permissions because of these difficulties. Such work is subsequently treated as unauthorised construction, exposing residents to action by the municipal administration.
The issue gained prominence after the Mira Bhayandar municipal administration took action against a house in Murdha a few days ago. Local villagers alleged that the action had been carried out under pressure from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The report does not provide an independent finding on that allegation.
Residents from the old villages had earlier met Urban Development Minister Eknath Shinde through Sarnaik. They sought a separate policy to protect the rights of local residents, described in the report as भूमिपुत्र, as well as tribal hamlets in the area. Following that meeting, Shinde instructed Urban Development Department officials to take necessary steps on the matter.
The inspection began at the Uttan coastline and continued through Rai, Murdha and the Ghodbunder area. It concluded in the Kajupada area of Thane. The tour involved officials from the Urban Development Department, the municipal administration, and the revenue and forest departments, according to the report.
The visit also triggered a dispute within the local governing alliance. Local BJP representatives in the Mira Bhayandar municipal corporation, where the Mahayuti is in power, said they had not been informed about the inspection. As a result, the mayor and local elected representatives did not have an opportunity to interact with the senior government officials during the visit, the report said.
Deputy Mayor Dhruvkishor Patil said local BJP representatives had not received information about the tour. He also said that the Urban Development Department officials had not informed them and that they would contact the department directly if any action was required. The report does not specify whether the inspection produced a written decision, a timetable or a draft policy.
The next steps will depend on the Urban Development Department’s follow-up to the inspection and on any policy or administrative measures announced for rebuilding homes and protecting gaothans and tribal settlements.
