Encroachment Removed from Government Land in Malvani, Ambojwadi Area

10,000 sq. m of Government Land Cleared

Mumbai, Nov 2025 : The district administration has successfully carried out a major eviction drive to remove large-scale encroachments from government land in Mouje Malvani in Mumbai Suburban district, specifically on Survey Nos. 2670 and 1916. The operation also targeted illegal landfill and slaughter activities near the protected mangrove area. More than 280 encroachments were demolished, freeing approximately 10,000 sq. m of government land.

The Maharashtra government has already granted protection to hutments built before the year 2000 and provided paid protection for hutments constructed up to 2011. However, the tendency to encroach on government land in the hope of obtaining free houses under the Slum Rehabilitation Scheme has continued. Local public representatives had also lodged complaints in this regard. Taking serious note of the issue, the Chief Executive Officer of the Slum Rehabilitation Authority, Mahendra Kalyankar, and the Mumbai Suburban District Collector, Saurabh Katiyar, directed all concerned agencies to take action and register cases against the offenders.

Accordingly, Additional District Collector (Encroachment/Removal) of the Western Suburbs, Ganesh Misal, and the in-charge Deputy Collector (Encroachment/Removal) of Malad, Vinayak Padvi, conducted the drive on November 3 and 4, 2025, with the support of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Malvani Police Station.

In this operation, around 280 hutments were demolished, clearing nearly 10,000 sq. m of encroached land. Encroachments around the natural Ali Lake were also removed, restoring the lake area. Notably, some of these structures were two- to three-storey permanent constructions. The efficiency of the demolition teams was commendable. For the first time, the administration used satellite imagery to identify post-2011 encroachments and initiate clearance action. The district administration stated that any future encroachments will also be removed using modern technology, and the encroachers will be held fully responsible for the resulting losses.

Additional District Collector (Encroachment/Removal) Ganesh Misal stated that encroachments on government and protected forest land will not be tolerated under any circumstances, and similar action will continue in the future.