In order to curb illegal constructions in the city, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is planning to put offenders name on the website to discourage them to commit the crime again. The civic body has already issued a circular for the immediate arrest of those who are repeatedly found involved in illegal constructions.

The civic administration is currently mulling to defame such persons in society and also aware people about illegal construction and prevent them from investing their hard-earned money.

According to a senior BMC official, they have shifted their focus from just razing illegal structures to the individual who repeatedly reconstructs a building despite action from the civic body.

"We are planning to put their names on the website so that others can know about their illegal activity," said a senior official from the removal and encroachment department of BMC. However, the official said that they are also checking with the law department for its implementation.

The circular issued on August 22 made provision of immediate arrest of those who repeatedly construct building illegally despite civic action under the Maharashtra Prevention of Dangerous Activities of Slumlords, Bootleggers, Drug-Offenders and Dangerous Persons (MPDA) Act, and section 188 of Indian Penal Code (disobedience to order of a public servant) to tackle illegal construction. "As per the circular, every ward office will also maintain a diary of illegal constructions in their respective areas. Based on the details, the civic authorities will take action," said the official, adding that they are also planning to put names of those figure in the diary maintained by the ward.

However, a civic activist believes that maintaining a diary of illegal construction is already in law but civic officials hardly maintain that. "Maintaining a diary of people involved in illegal constructions was already in law and every ward should maintain it. However, this was never in practice," said Shakeen Ahmed Shaikh, a civic activist. He added that every civic ward has mukadam and they are supposed to visit their area every day and check of illegal construction.

Even in Ghatkopar building collapse in 2017 that claimed 17 lives, the role of mukadam had come to fore. "Now, the senior civic official will maintain a diary and deputy municipal commissioner of each zone will review action and accordingly, violators' name will be put on the website," added the official.

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