Kolhapur civic body’s survey finds 204 illegal constructions near Tawde hotel, 88 in contempt of court

Kolhapur: A survey conducted by the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation has revealed that 204 constructions have been erected illegally on 158 acres of civic land near the Tawde hotel, on the Kolhapur-Gandhinagar road, including 88 structures built in contempt of court orders, the officials said.Of the total constructions, 33 fall within the flood line of the Panchaganga river, raising serious environmental and safety concerns. Five KMC teams carried out the survey on April 24 and 25, and the detailed report was submitted to the municipal commissioner on Wednesday for further action.The survey followed a recent Supreme Court ruling, which held that the land claimed by the Uchgaon gram panchayat in the Tawde hotel area belongs to the municipal corporation. KMC officials said the civic body owns 158 acres at the site, of which 23.5 acres are reserved for a truck terminus, some land is earmarked for a garbage depot, while the remaining area is designated as a no-development zone. Despite this, officials said widespread illegal construction has taken place.An official, requesting anonymity, said, "The survey documented details including ownership of land, period of construction, number of floors, type and use of structures, occupancy status, and whether new construction had come up on existing buildings." The entire survey process was also video-recorded, the official added.Meanwhile, Rajendra Kamble, an activist from Koyna Colony in Gandhinagar, said, "Many wealthy people have built illegal structures in the Tawde hotel area. They are now trying to bring political pressure to avoid action. However, the municipal corporation should demolish the illegal structures. If action isn't taken, I will self-immolate in front of the municipal corporation. I have given a written statement of the same to KMC commissioner Dr Rajendra Bharud."