BMC chief I.S. Chahal on September 6 ordered an inquiry into 49 allegedly unauthorised studios at Madh Island, Marve, Erangal and Bhatigaon in Malad, Bombay. These 49 studios came up in 2021 and 2022 in no-development zone (NDZ) and coastal regulation zone (CRZ) areas, allegedly without proper permissions and by using fraudulent documents with the help of BMC and MCZMA officials.
Chahal has appointed deputy municipal commissioner Harshad Kale as the inquiry officer. Kale has been directed to submit the report in four weeks and give recommendations to prevent such wrong-doings in future.
The inquiry will probe into whether the studios have been built on NDZ and CRZ land; the alleged involvement of assistant municipal commissioner, assistant engineer and other officials; how many approvals were granted and how many studios are functioning; and if nods were given only for film shootings and temporary sets.
