The drive, which is reportedly being consistently tripped up by councillors landing up at demolition sites and pressuring MBMC staff to stop work, will now be carried out by a District Demolition Squad, manned by staff from various municipal councils within the Thane district like Bhiwandi, Vasai and Virar, MBMC chief officer Kalyan Kelkar said. "In the new arrangement, which is under consideration, staff from a Bhiwandi municipal council, for instance, will come to Bhayander and demolish its illegal structures. Our staff also will be sent to other councils for demolitions in those areas," he added.

Alleged Kelkar, "No officer in our demolition squad has been spared of threats and foul language from the councillors, who are solely responsible forallowing and sheltering illegal buildings. The poor state of affairs at the MBMC is not due to the official connivance but interference of councillors in administrative matters." This new crack squad is to be assisted by local staff for identifying demolition sites. "They will be well equipped to raze the structures, and assistance will be provided if required," said MBMC sources.

Till date, the MBMC has razed 27 buildings and 122 more are lined up. With the drive slated to continue through the rains and become a staple in the months thereafter, the MBMC experiment may ease the pressure off the demolition staff. An MBMC official said the new staff may not come under pressure.

The officer cited instances of councillors' aides creating scenes at demolition sites, dumping oil or water tankers in the middle of lone access roads leading to illegal buildings, threatening officers with calls to "stay home for the day", or offering to part with some money, usually ranging between Rs 50,000 and Rs 1 lakh perillegal building.