{
  "id": 9418956,
  "title": "Mumbai: BMC’s 14-Ft Slum Crackdown Faces Cross-Party Opposition, Corporators Demand Consultation Before Action",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/mumbai-bmcs-14-ft-slum-crackdown-faces-cross-party-opposition",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T21:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-bmcs-14-ft-slum-crackdown-faces-cross-party-opposition-corporators-demand-consultation-before-action"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai, September 23, 2026 - The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) proposed crackdown on unauthorized constructions in slum areas exceeding 14 feet has faced opposition from corporators across party lines. The civic administration’s intention to act against such structures has been met with demands for thorough consultation and a change in the proposed action. In a recent discussion at the BMC Standing Committee, corporators urged the administration to present its proposal for discussion before taking any action. The Standing Committee Chairman, Prabhakar Shinde, directed the administration to explain its position at the next meeting. Yashodhar Phanse, a Shiv Sena (UBT) corporator, highlighted the concerns of residents from Versova’s gaothan area, who approached him following the news. Jamir Kureshi, an AIMIM corporator, warned that voters would not tolerate any difficulties faced by the residents and called for permitting slum constructions up to 24 feet. Congress group leader Ashraf Azmi criticized the BJP for its manifesto promise of constructing 40 lakh houses and demanded proper survey of slum areas and a rehabilitation scheme, while also calling for the BMC to withdraw the proposed action. Amey Ghole, leader of the Shinde faction of Shiv Sena, called for a clear Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on maximum permissible construction height in slum areas, pointing out the possibility of undocumented migrant populations residing in such structures. Ganesh Khankar, leader of the House and BJP group leader, questioned the BMC’s enforcement record, stating that the issue of rampant unauthorised construction should have been addressed earlier. Shinde, the leader of the group, took a firm stand against unchecked slum and unauthorized construction, emphasizing the need for proper verification and separate approaches for gaothan areas. The BMC is set to intensify its demolition drive against 39,111 unauthorized structures exceeding 14 feet across Mumbai and its suburbs from October 1 to December 31.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, September 23, 2026: The BMC’s proposed action against unauthorised constructions in slum areas exceeding 14 feet has exposed an apparent contradiction in the stand taken by corporators across party lines. While the civic administration is seeking to act against unauthorised structures, elected representatives have united to demand that the proposed action be withdrawn. During a discussion…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}