Urban development department directs KMC to demolish 123 constructions in Tawde Hotel area

Kolhapur: The state urban development department (UDD) has directed the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation (KMC) to immediately demolish 123 unauthorised properties. These include 37 structures situated within the river’s blue flood line and 86 constructions built in contempt of court.The directive follows a meeting held at the Mantralaya on Tuesday, initiated by MLA Amal Mahadik. The high-level meeting was attended by UDD additional chief secretary Asim Gupta, municipal commissioner Dr Rajendra Bharud, and other senior officials. The official minutes were released on Wednesday evening.The UDD made it clear that out of 204 identified unauthorized structures, 123 must be razed under any circumstances.

The department ordered the immediate removal of all constructions built within the blue flood line after the regulation was implemented. Also, any structures erected after the Supreme Court’s judgment on May 3, 2018, are to be demolished without delay.The UDD also addressed the city’s second revised development plan regarding land reserved for a truck terminus and a garbage depot. A KMC official, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated: “The department has directed the KMC to examine the necessity and utility of these current reservations. We have been instructed to identify more suitable sites elsewhere to relocate and develop these facilities.”The KMC has already begun taking action, having razed 14 encroachments at the site on Monday. The civic authorities are now preparing for a massive, multi-day demolition drive scheduled to commence this Saturday.