Collectors may get more teeth

The three-member committee of secretaries on unauthorised constructions will submit its report to the state government by the month-end. The three-member committee of secretaries on

unauthorised constructions will submit its report to the state government by the month-end. It is likely that the committee would suggest to the government to allocate more powers to

district collectors to act against unauthorised constructions and provide them with mechanism and staff for demolition drives. The committee was formed after MLAs from Pimpri-Chinchwad held

a demonstration in Mumbai during the monsoon session of state assembly in July 2012. The government took the decision to appoint the committee on July 23 after a meeting chaired by chief

minister Prithviraj Chavan. Additional chief secretary (revenue) Swadheen Kshatriya, who heads the committee, conducted a meeting in Pune on Saturday. The principal secretary for urban

development department, Manukumar Srivastava, was also present but the principal secretary for rural development was absent. Pune divisional commissioner Prabhakar Deshmukh, district

collector Vikas Deshmukh and settlement commissioner Chandrakant Dalvi were also present. Speaking to DNA after the meeting, Kshatriya said the committee was appointed on September 7 and was

asked to submit the report in a month. He said as the problem was a statewide phenomenon, a few more meetings would be held before submitting the report. He said, "The committee would

submit its report to the government by October end." Kshatriya said the census of 2011 shows that there was widespread urbanisation in the state. It was also discussed that collectors

don’t have enough powers through the provisions of Maharashtra Land Revenue Code and the possibility of providing powers through MRTP was discussed.