Mumbai: 57 commercial units demolished as govt reclaims six acres worth Rs 250 crore

Around 57 unauthorised commercial units occupying nearly six acres of government land in Mankhurd were demolished on Thursday as the Mumbai Suburban district administration stepped up its drive to reclaim government property The land along the SionPanvel Highway is estimated by the administration to be worth around Rs 250 crore in the open marketThe parcel forms part of land allotted to the Childrenrsquos Aid Society more than eight decades ago The administration said portions of the property were subleased in 1974 without the required government permission and were subsequently developedpopcorn numberRs 250 cr descEstimated openmarket value classDefaultHow the dispute beganThe government allotted around 140 acres and six gunthas of land in Mankhurd and Deonar to the Childrenrsquos Aid Society under government orders issued in 1939 The allotment came with conditions governing how the land could be used and dealt withpopcorn number1939 descYear of original government allotment classDefaultMap showing the government land parcel in MankhurdAccording to revenue records cited in the proceedings around 23 acres were subsequently subleased to five parties without prior government permission Portions of the land were later occupied and developed including for commercial usepopcorn number1974 descYear linked to the disputed subleases classDefaultWhat the records showOriginal government allotment 140 acres 6 gunthasBeneficiary Childrenrsquos Aid SocietyOriginal allotment 1939Disputed subleases around 23 acresParties involved in the subleases fiveSubleases allegedly without prior government permissionLatest action 57 commercial units demolishedpopcorn number57 descCommercial units demolished classDefaultThe permission questionThe longrunning landgrabbing and encroachment case centred on the conditions attached to the original government allotment The government maintained that the land could not be transferred subleased or developed without the necessary approvalsWhy this mattersMankhurd parcel is part of a 1939 govt allotment and has been at the centre of a land grabbing over subleasing and development for decades Thursdayrsquos demolition is therefore not simply a fresh antiencroachment action It is physical enforcement of a chain of revenue proceedings The immediate task will now be to secure the cleared parcelOrders that led to Thursdayrsquos action2018 Proceedings of the Mumbai Suburban Collector directed action against the encroachments and provided for resumption of the affected government land in accordance with the applicable conditionsSubsequently The affected parties challenged the action before higher revenue authoritiesRevenue Ministerrsquos order The challenges were rejected leaving the administrationrsquos action intactSeptember 10 2026 The district administration carried out the physical demolition of the 57 commercial unitslsquoMore land to be reclaimedrsquoThe Mankhurd action is part of a wider Mumbai Suburban district campaign to reclaim government land from unauthorised occupation and encroachments The Modus operandi is simple ldquoFirst grab the land and then engage the govt in litigationsrdquo said a revenue officialOfficial SpeakPadmakar Rokade Additional District Collector handles encroachment matters in Eastern SuburbsldquoThe action has been taken in accordance with the orders of the competent authorities and the conditions governing the government land Wherever government land has been encroached upon or unauthorisedly developed the administration will take action as per the prescribed procedure and reclaim the landrdquoPolice SpeaklsquoWe carried out extensive background checks and preventive action before the operation People with criminal records or pending cases were identified and flushed out while nakabandi was imposed to monitor movement The demolition began at 7 am with roads cut off from both sides to take encroachers by surprise The operation remained peaceful with no untoward incidents Personnel from Trombay Mankhurd and Deonar police stations along with reserve forces were deployed to maintain law and orderrsquoCollector SpeakSaurabh Katiyar Mumbai Suburban District Collector and MagistratelsquoIn the past few months major encroachment removal drives have been taken making more than 50 acres of govt land encroachmentfree Similar drives will be taken in coming months too so that land can be used for public projectsrsquoPolice prepare for resistancePolice were deployed as part of the operation with personnel from Trombay Mankhurd and Deonar police stations A police officer said preventive measures and background checks had been carried out before the demolition