The Times of India 09.03.2013
Residents of Worli buildings edgy as BMC pores over SC order
MUMBAI: Residents
of 100-odd flats that were illegally constructed in six buildings at
Worli Naka 25 years ago are a worried lot as the structures face
demolition following a Supreme Court order.
On February 27, Justices G S Singhvi and Sudhanshu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya ruled that the violations cannot be regularized and told the BMC to take action. The buildings—Esha Ekta, Patel, Orchid, BY, Midtown, and Shubh—were constructed by four developers on a plot that used to house Pure Drinks, manufacturers of Campa Cola. While the builders were granted permissions for ground-plus-five floors but, Midtown went up to 20 floors, Orchid to 17, Esha Ekta to eight, Shubh to seven and BY and Patel to six floors each.
Rajesh Parikh, a businessman residing on B Y Apartments' sixth floor, said, "We plan to file a review plea. When the government can regularize illegal slums, why cannot the same largesse be given to us? We did not know of the illegalities when we bought the flats."
Karan Sethia, a sixth-floor resident of Patel Apartments, said, "We are suffering despite it not being our fault. The BMC failed to take action before we bought the flat," he said.
The BMC has indicated it is in no hurry to demolish the flats. Building proposal department officials said they have asked the legal department to study the order and will then decide the course of action. "If a review plea is filed, action will be delayed," an official said.
On February 27, Justices G S Singhvi and Sudhanshu Jyoti Mukhopadhaya ruled that the violations cannot be regularized and told the BMC to take action. The buildings—Esha Ekta, Patel, Orchid, BY, Midtown, and Shubh—were constructed by four developers on a plot that used to house Pure Drinks, manufacturers of Campa Cola. While the builders were granted permissions for ground-plus-five floors but, Midtown went up to 20 floors, Orchid to 17, Esha Ekta to eight, Shubh to seven and BY and Patel to six floors each.
Rajesh Parikh, a businessman residing on B Y Apartments' sixth floor, said, "We plan to file a review plea. When the government can regularize illegal slums, why cannot the same largesse be given to us? We did not know of the illegalities when we bought the flats."
Karan Sethia, a sixth-floor resident of Patel Apartments, said, "We are suffering despite it not being our fault. The BMC failed to take action before we bought the flat," he said.
The BMC has indicated it is in no hurry to demolish the flats. Building proposal department officials said they have asked the legal department to study the order and will then decide the course of action. "If a review plea is filed, action will be delayed," an official said.
