The building, part of a housing complex belonging to a builder Agarwal which allegedly has some councillors as partners, was pulled down by 50-odd labourers. The structure didn't have a single legal document to stand on.

This drive, informed MBMC Administration Officer Ajit Patil, was launched on the orders of the Thane collector Shrikant Singh, and targets all structures which fail to meet the criteria laid down by the MBMC. Chief Officer of the council Kalyan Kelkar informed that many more such illegal buildings would be demolished.

Officials at the site told Express Newsline that the Kasturi Park structure had came up over the last two months and was almost ready for occupation. "Even the electrical and sanitary fittings were fixed, as were the rolling shutters for four shopson the ground floor," disclosed an official. This building is one among 600-700 illegal structures, both residential and commercial, in Mira-Bhayander, said council sources. These structures have sprung up in the last five years, and most of them have been built with poor quality cement, sand, metal and bricks. The drive is likely to continue for some more weeks, until the rains set in. This is in keeping with the state government's orders that no demolitions are to be carried out during the four months of monsoon.

And to prevent prospective buyers from being cheated by investing or buying property in the Mira-Bhayander area, the council has also issued public notices in newspapers warning prospective buyers to verify the occupation certificates issued in residential and commercial premises with council officials. Kelkar said the advertisement has been published following directives issued by the High Court to restrain buyers from investing in properties which are illegal and unauthorised.