Nirav's illegal bungalow to be demolished

Illegal bungalows in Raigad district will be demolished including the ones owned by diamantaire Nirav Modi and his uncle Mehul Choksi. Most of these illegal bungalows are in Alibaug and Murud areas of the coastal Konkan region's Raigad district.

These bungalows have run into the problem because of violation of the Coastal Regulation Zone (CSR) norms. The Bombay High Court had earlier rapped the Maharashtra government several times over the illegal bungalows in the coastal district adjoining Mumbai.

"We would be demolishing the bungalows that are illegal," state Environment Minister Ramdas Kadam said after a review meeting in Raigad. There are 164 illegal bungalows in Murud and Alibaug. Nearly 100 bungalows of the local fishermen would not be touched.

The state government will now have to expedite cases before the National Green Tribunal. The defaulters could face a fine of Rs one lakh or a five-year jail term.