The Hindu 13.11.2013
241 cases ripe for demolition: civic body
Priyanka Kakodkar
Just about 15 kilometres from the Campa Cola Compound
stands the infamous Adarsh Society. The entire 31-storey building, which
was built without environmental clearances despite being located within
the Coastal Regulation Zone, faces demolition.
In
the last eight months alone, the Mumbai municipality has issued 3,726
notices to several structures in the city for illegal alterations or
construction beyond sanctioned legal plans.
The civic
body says 241 illegal constructions are “ripe cases” for demolition.
“In several cases, the developer has gone ahead with the construction
without a commencement certificate, which is absolutely illegal. We will
act after scrutinising their responses,” says Additional Municipal
Commissioner Mohan Adtani.
Like the Campa Cola
Compound, nearly 6,000 buildings in Mumbai don’t have an occupation
certificate. This is a document that is given once the building has
complied with all the construction norms. Residents should not move into
a new construction without it.
Critics point to a
link between Pratibha building case of the 1980s and the Campa Cola
case. The 36-storey Pratibha building came up in the elite Breach Candy
area. Its top eight floors were found to be illegal and demolished after
a protracted legal battle. The original architect of the building later
turned developer and was involved in the Campa Cola construction.
Residents feel cheated
Residents
say demolition is unfair, especially since the builders had it easy. “I
have been living in the compound for more than 20 years. The civic body
should only demolish flats that have crossed the permissible FSI
limits. The municipality should consider regularising the other
portions,” said Umesh Sinha.
On Tuesday, residents
were shouting slogans at the gate. “We have been targeted because we are
not considered a likely vote bank. Despite all the irregularities in
Aadarsh, the building still stands,” said a protester who did not wish
to be named.
