BMC
Dhaval Shah, from the Lokandwala Oshiwara Citizens Association said that there has been a reservation in the BMC’s Development Plan for a fire station since the year 1991. Sawarkar said he is now pursuing the authorities to expedite the process of developing the fire station so that construction can begin at the earliest.
Local BJP corporator Rupesh Sawarkar said he had been pursuing the issue since his election earlier this year. He said he found that the encroachments had also extended onto a portion of the land reserved for the proposed fire station and had been urging the civic authorities to act. Monday’s demolition, Sawarkar said, takes the locality “one step closer” to getting a full-fledged fire station. “The land is being freely used for wedding functions, film shoots and turf cricket activities through lease arrangements, leading to financial irregularities,” said Sawarkar. “The BMC should continue the momentum and make it a reality as lakhs of Versova Assembly residents need it with massive sky scrapers in the making fire safety must be a top priority,” he said adding that currently the absence of a nearby fire station has affected emergency response times in the area, resulting in delays during fire incidents and increasing the risk of loss of life and property.
The action followed complaints that the premises had encroached on open space reserved for a fire station. The area currently lacks one, a concern given the high-density residential belt along Lokhandwala and Link Road. Mumbai: BMC’s K-West ward on Monday demolished an unauthorised garage and marriage hall operating from Chitrakoot grounds on Link Road, Andheri.