D-Hub Team Visits Demolition Site, Ismail Batliwala Demands Accountability in Kalwa–Mumbra–Diva

909 Buildings Served Notices as TMC’s Crackdown Leaves 500 Flats Razed, Families in Distress

Thane, Kalwa–Mumbra–Diva:

A team from D-Hub, led by community representative Ismail Batliwala, visited AVK Compound in Mumbra, where nearly 25 buildings housing about 500 flats were recently demolished by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The visit came amid shockwaves after TMC revealed that 909 unauthorised buildings have been identified across Kalwa, Mumbra and Diva, of which 175 have already been demolished.

A team from D-Hub, led by community representative Ismail Batliwala, visited the site where nearly 25 buildings, housing around 500 flats, were demolished by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) at AVK Compund in Mumbra. The visit came as shockwaves spread across the region following the civic body’s disclosure that 909 unauthorised buildings have been identified and served notices across Kalwa, Mumbra and Diva.

During the site inspection, Batliwala sharply questioned civic authorities over how such large residential structures came up without proper permissions. He said residents, many of whom had invested life savings, were now left homeless because of builder fraud and weak municipal vigilance. “Where was the system when these towers were being built and flats sold openly? Demolishing homes after families move in is injustice without accountability,” he said.

According to official records, out of the 909 illegal structures flagged by TMC, 175 have already been demolished and 52 partially brought down, with the highest concentration in Diva (over 740 buildings). Civic engineers confirmed that utilities like water and electricity were cut before demolitions, and FIRs have been filed against builders accused of forging documents.

Residents at the site voiced anger, alleging they were misled by developers who promised clear titles and occupancy certificates. Many appealed for compensation and rehabilitation, insisting they were innocent victims of a broken regulatory system.

Batliwala demanded immediate relief measures, including temporary housing support, builder accountability trials, and strict vigilance to prevent fresh illegal constructions. “Notices and demolitions cannot be the only answer. People need justice, not just bulldozers,” he said, adding that D-Hub would continue to monitor the issue through the Kalva–Mumbra–Diva Prabhag Samiti.

TMC officials, however, maintain that the drive is in compliance with court orders and necessary to curb rampant illegal development that poses structural and safety risks. In one Shil-Diva project alone, 17 multi-storey complexes were declared illegal by court and ordered demolished, highlighting the scale of irregularities.

The civic crackdown, while legally mandated, has ignited fresh debate on governance, urban planning, and citizen protection. For many in Kalwa-Mumbra-Diva, the demolitions are more than a civic action — they are a fight for dignity, shelter, and systemic reform.