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Mumbai: The flattening of illegal structures in Ulhasnagar
may well be put on hold again. The UMC is faced with
the expenses of positioning about 600 policemen to maintain
the law and order in the town, accumulating with each
passing day. Violent protests had ensued in the town
after the Bombay High Court had directed the demolition
of the unauthorized structures.
Civic officials reveal that the UMC has to pay up around
Rs 2 to 3 lakhs to the state police on daily basis.
The police say that the UMC already owes more than Rs
25 lakh to the force. “We are providing the necessary
force since it is an High Court order. How we get the
money is an issue we will deal with later,” says
a police officer.
Four battalions of 75 policemen each from the Special
Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been positioned. Ulhasnagar
Municipal Commissioner (UMC), D S Patil, has not instructed
the demolition squad to swing into the second round
of action against the 855 illegal buildings in the suburbs.
The first round of demolitions, almost two weeks ago,
was followed by sporadic incidents of violence. The
corporation’s new commissioner, D.S. Patil, had
thus requested additional police force to check aggression
and rioting. Thane Police Commissioner, D. Sivanandan
had endorsed Patil’s demand for the additional
task force to be deployed in the town.
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