The Times of India            08.11.2013

BMC to serve Campa eviction notices today

MUMBAI: The BMC will take its first decisive step towards demolishing the 35 illegal floors in the Campa Cola housing society by issuing eviction notices to the residents of the unauthorized apartments on Friday.

This will be the third time that the civic body will serve an eviction notice on the residents of the Worli building. However, the previous two notices, issued on April 26 and September 30, were declared null and void after the Supreme Court granted a stay on the demolition of illegal flats in Campa Cola in May and October respectively.

Finally on October 1, the apex court passed the ultimate order, directing the residents to vacate the illegal flats, which are housed above the fifth floors of all the seven buildings on the premises, by November 11.

Under Section 488 of the MMC Act, the new notices will be pasted on all illegal flats. "There will be absolutely no activity on November 11," said Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner.

The next day, our assistant workmen will visit the buildings and check whether all the unauthorized apartments had been vacated or not. On November 13, we, along with the police, will again visit the premises and disconnect water, gas and electricity supply to the illegal flats," said Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner. "A few days later, our workmen will begin breaking the internal walls of the flats."

Stating that they would not "go hammer and tongs on the very first day", Adtani added, "The actual pulling down of beams and pillars will begin much later. We are yet to invite tenders and appoint a contractor for that work." It will apparently take at least six months to complete the entire demolition process.

When asked about the precautionary measures to be taken for the legal residents during the razing, the additional municipal commissioner said, "That will be decided later as the actual demolition will be carried out at a later stage. We will make alternative arrangements for lift, water supply and parking for those who continue to live in the buildings."

Even as the civic body, firm in its stand, gets ready to pull down the unauthorized structures, residents of the ill-fated apartments continue to protest, some of them on a hunger-strike since Monday. After four days' fasting, health of some of the protesters has started deteriorating, showing signs of weight loss and fluctuating blood pressure. Congress MP Milind Deora visited the residents on Thursday, assuring them to arrange for a final meeting with chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Friday, after he arrives from Karad.

Not to be left out, MNS MLA Bala Nandgaonkar, too, visited the affected residents and said he had also proposed an all-party meeting with the CM to find a solution. He added that senior BMC officials would be included in the discussion. After the politicians as well as celebrities—actor Raza Murad and Ali Khan paid a visit in the afternoon—left after showing their solidarity with the flat-owners, the residents visited the Siddhivinayak temple in the evening to attend a an aarti, hoping for the best.