Mumbai: The Bombay High Court has mandated that no unauthorised constructions be supplied with electricity. In response to that, the Thane Municipal Commissioner Saurabh Rao instructed officials from Mahavitaran and Torrent power companies to refrain from providing electricity to such buildings.
This comes after the Bombay High Court's instruction to the Thane Municipal Corporation to scrutinise the water department's actions regarding illegal structures lacking proper documentation, deeming this practice a public nuisance amid a water crisis.
Additionally, the court had mandated that electricity providers only authorise connections after thorough document verification, rejecting guarantees or affidavits as sufficient. The Municipal Corporation must report on the measures taken at the next hearing on August 4. Thane experiences significant water shortages despite adequate monsoon rainfall, indicating serious management issues and forcing residents to rely on costly tanker supplies.
Unauthorized constructions have proliferated in Thane, often sold under the guise of legality, leading citizens to invest significantly in these homes. Following court orders, the municipality has demolished numerous illegal structures, including 21 in Mumbra Shil. However, these buildings often received water and electricity, attracting residents who, upon demolition, are left homeless.
Commissioner Rao stressed the High Court's ruling requiring electricity companies to verify the legality of constructions before supplying power, asserting that affidavits alone are insufficient. He called for collaboration with the Municipal Corporation's Urban Development Department to develop procedures for verifying electricity connection requests according to the Court's directives.
Rao urged companies to create solutions ensuring authorised constructions receive power without impacting legitimate consumers, aiming to prevent illegal constructions from accessing utility services and emphasizing the importance of legal compliance in urban development.
