While numerous attempts by the BMC to reign in illegal constructions in the city have failed, standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale has come up with a new concept to prevent them. He has demanded a ten-fold hike in the fine collected from the offenders according to the ready reckoner rate of the land.
In a letter to civic chief Subodh Kumar, Mr Shewale said, “The illegal constructions in the city have been growing continuously. Even as everyone is raising unauthorised structures, nobody seems to be left with any fear of the law.”
To create terror in the minds of people carrying out illegal constructions, there should be a deterrent. For this, the cost of the land should be determined by the prevalent ready reckoner rate, and the offender should be fined 10 times that cost, he added.
Mr Shewale has also demanded a similar penalty method for illegal water connections in the city. “In case of illegal water connection, the offender should be fined ten times his official deposit amount,” he said.
By levying such harsh fines, people can be expected to keep away from
such illegal activities and the BMC will also generate revenue, Mr Shewale added.