The officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will on Wednesday resume the eviction of illegal flats built on the Campa Cola Compound in South Mumbai's posh Worli area even as hundreds of residents remain adamant and refuse to vacate their homes.
According to reports, hundreds of residents and their well-wishers yesterday locked the society's gates from inside for hours in a bid to prevent the BMC's demolition squad and policemen from entering the premise to carry out the demolition wok.
The agitating residents, who shouted anti-government slogans and pleaded to political parties for help, refused to budge even after the BMC officials snapped electricity, water and gas supply to the illegal flats.
With the pressure increasing on the state administration, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has sought legal help from the Attorney General, whether an ordinance - or an executive order - can save the homes.
"The BMC action is according to the Supreme Court verdict. We are trying to give some relief to the occupants. We are in touch with our legal counsel. Can't talk on what our next step would be," Chavan told reporters.
The BMC officials, who are under pressure to comply with the Supreme Court directive, have said that they will keep returning every day to ensure that the apex court's order to demolish 102 illegal flats in the compound is followed. So far the BMC officials have avoided using the force for evicting the flats. "We are trying to handle the situation peacefully and are avoiding using force," said Kishore Kshirsagar, deputy commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
However, the residents are still unmoved and say that they were duped by builders.
The BMC action came after the deadline set by the Supreme Court for residents to vacate their illegal flats ended on Monday.
Seven highrises were constructed at the Campa Cola Compound between 1981 and 1989. The builders had permission for only six floors, but constructed way too many. One of the buildings, Midtown, has 20 floors. Another building, Orchid, has 17.
Mumbai's civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to bring down the 35 illegal floors in the seven highrises after the Supreme Court refused to regularise them.
To carry out the demolition work, the BMC had made elaborate preparations. The Bruihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) officials issued notices to the residents that action will be initiated as per the Supreme Court orders and electricity supply will be cut.
The Supreme Court in its verdict had ordered BMC that 96 flats (above five floors) across seven buildings in the compound must be demolished after the deadline to vacate the flats ends on November 11.
These flats were built by the builders without the permission of the civic body and hence declared illegal.
BMC has deployed around 150 employees in the demolition process. The teams will include officials from ward offices, headed by three assistant municipal commissioners.
According to reports, hundreds of residents and their well-wishers yesterday locked the society's gates from inside for hours in a bid to prevent the BMC's demolition squad and policemen from entering the premise to carry out the demolition wok.
The agitating residents, who shouted anti-government slogans and pleaded to political parties for help, refused to budge even after the BMC officials snapped electricity, water and gas supply to the illegal flats.
With the pressure increasing on the state administration, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has sought legal help from the Attorney General, whether an ordinance - or an executive order - can save the homes.
"The BMC action is according to the Supreme Court verdict. We are trying to give some relief to the occupants. We are in touch with our legal counsel. Can't talk on what our next step would be," Chavan told reporters.
The BMC officials, who are under pressure to comply with the Supreme Court directive, have said that they will keep returning every day to ensure that the apex court's order to demolish 102 illegal flats in the compound is followed. So far the BMC officials have avoided using the force for evicting the flats. "We are trying to handle the situation peacefully and are avoiding using force," said Kishore Kshirsagar, deputy commissioner, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).
However, the residents are still unmoved and say that they were duped by builders.
The BMC action came after the deadline set by the Supreme Court for residents to vacate their illegal flats ended on Monday.
Seven highrises were constructed at the Campa Cola Compound between 1981 and 1989. The builders had permission for only six floors, but constructed way too many. One of the buildings, Midtown, has 20 floors. Another building, Orchid, has 17.
Mumbai's civic body Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) decided to bring down the 35 illegal floors in the seven highrises after the Supreme Court refused to regularise them.
To carry out the demolition work, the BMC had made elaborate preparations. The Bruihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) officials issued notices to the residents that action will be initiated as per the Supreme Court orders and electricity supply will be cut.
The Supreme Court in its verdict had ordered BMC that 96 flats (above five floors) across seven buildings in the compound must be demolished after the deadline to vacate the flats ends on November 11.
These flats were built by the builders without the permission of the civic body and hence declared illegal.
BMC has deployed around 150 employees in the demolition process. The teams will include officials from ward offices, headed by three assistant municipal commissioners.
No comments:
Post a Comment