Thane Civic Official alleged of protecting illegal constructions in Kalwa

In the wake of allegations surrounding the protection of illegal construction in Kalwa ward, a senior official from Thane Municipal Corporation, Subodh Thanekar, the assistant municipal commissioner of the Kalwa ward, has been placed on 'compulsory leave,' as confirmed by Abhijeet Bangar, the civic chief. Bangar stated, We had previously received multiple complaints about unauthorised constructions in the area. Following the inquiry, we have taken action. He mentioned issuing a notice to Thanekar, who was instructed to provide his explanation. However, the response was deemed unsatisfactory, leading to the decision to place him on compulsory leave. NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad and BJP MLA Sanjay Kelkar had previously raised concerns in assembly sessions about the proliferation of illegal buildings in the Kalwa ward. Both politicians accused the civic body of turning a blind eye to unauthorised constructions and pointed fingers at civic officials, alleging collusion with builders involved in illegal construction. Citizens have also raised objections, claiming that the crux of the issue lies in the fraudulent registration of apartments in illegal buildings as legal flats. This is allegedly achieved by forging Commencement Certificates (CC) and Occupation Certificates (OC) for illegal constructions located in Kalwa.