Vasai: The MSEB has been accused of installing an electric transformer on a site where construction debris was illegally dumped in Rajavali, Vasai (east), adjacent to salt pans and mangroves. This transformer was installed early this week. Activists alleged encroachers are already moving to construct illegal chawls on the plot. This, they said, would lead to severe flooding during monsoon. Already, reclamation of up to six to seven feet has been done.Activist Anil Chavan said, “The land mafia has tricked the MSEB. This transformer will be used to provide power supply to illegal chawls planned on this land.”MSEB superintending engineer Sanjay Khandare said plot owners approached executive engineer Vasai for connection to start a water filtration plant in Rajavali.“They asked for augmentation of the transformer to 200KVA capacity and it was approved. After it came to light that illegal reclamation was done, we will investigate this matter and accordingly take further steps,” said Khandare.“We shall not allow any connections to the illegal chawls,” he said. Khandare said although the cost estimate for the transformer has been approved, it has not been commissioned so far.Palghar collector Indurani Jakhar said that she had spoken to the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation and the Vasai tahsildar and instructed them to make sure no illegal chawls come up on that site. Sources said the Vasai tahsildar’s office would soon write to the MSEB to remove the transformer from the site as half of the land is govt land and the other half is that of tribals.VVCMC officials said that they have demolished the plinths of the chawl plottings and around half a dozen houses which have people living in them have been served notices.
