The Indian Express            04.12.2013

BMC begins demolition drive at Mazgaon, cuts off water, electricity supply

Following a Supreme Court order on October 21, BMC Tuesday initiated the process of demolition of four dilapidated civic-owned buildings at Mazgaon, Tadwadi. The four-storeyed buildings — 13, 14, 15 and 16 — which form part of the BIT Chawl or Mazgaon Co-operative Housing Society comprising 16 buildings, were built in 1922 and house around 1,000 residents.

Six months ago, the BMC had issued notices to residents asking them to vacate the structures that have been classified as C1 category or 'highly dangerous and dilapidated' buildings. Residents, however, challenged the notice and took the issue to the Supreme Court.

More than 500 police personnel and 50 BMC employees as part of the demolition squad arrived the site at 11.30 am. Amid residents' protests, while the civic workers disconnected the underground pipelines, officials from the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking unplugged power supply to the buildings.

"All the buildings in this area are old, so why are we being targeted? We refuse to move out," said resident Kishore Parmar, also a member of the BIT Bachao Samiti.

On October 21, the SC ordered the BMC to demolish the run-down structures and rehabilitate its residents. "We will be shifting 100 families of buildings 13 and 14 to a transit camp nearby. The remaining 220 families will be shifted to our transit accommodation in Mahul," said E-ward officer, Sanjog Khabare.

"There are no medical facilities or schools in Mahul. Also it is the most polluted area. My child's school is nearby and his exams are round the corner. My family will have to spend close to Rs 200 every day commuting from Mahul," said resident Nitin Chandorkar of building number 15.