MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai
Municipal Corporation (BMC) is firm in its resolve to demolish the 140
flats on the 35 illegal floors in the seven buildings in Worli’s upscale
Campa Cola society. It rejected the affected families’ contention that
the demolition scheduled to start this week is rushed. Or that the
48-hour eviction notices were unreasonable.

Residents of the
unauthorised floors say they were caught off guard by the notices.
Particularly since the municipal corporation had earlier given the
impression that it will take at least three months for the demolition.
The civic body had, in fact, mentioned that tenders would be invited for
the action and a contractor appointed.

“The notices were
craftily and hastily served during the weekend, leaving us no recourse.
The municipal body is behaving as if we are slumlords,” said a resident.

Additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani countered the residents’
arguments. “It was not something that residents learnt of 48 hours in
advance. The order was passed in 2005 and the Supreme Court upheld it in
February. The residents were also asked to demolish the illegal
construction on their own,” he said.

When asked about a review petition pending in the SC, Adtani said, “The residents have exhausted all options.”

The additional municipal commissioner explained the demolitions will
begin “either on Monday or Tuesday, depending on police protection”. “It
can start with any building. We will use diamond-cutter technology and
vibrators for removing slabs.”

Estimated to cost Rs 1.5 crore,
the demolition will be undertaken in three phases. In the first phase,
internal walls will be removed; in the second, slabs; and in the
concluding stage, pillars and beams.