Despite a notice from the BMC in 2014 to vacate the building, residents continued to live in the crumbling Damji Sadan
After the Bhendi Bazaar building collapse, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has adopted a new approach to deal with dilapidated buildings in the city. The civic body with the help of police evacuated a ground plus three storey Damji Sadan building in Raigad Chowk at Ghatkopar East on Wednesday evening, after it received a call that the right side of the building had tilted.
Despite a notice from the BMC in 2014 to vacate the building, residents continued to live in the crumbling Damji Sadan. The civic body now claims that its new approach has saved the lives of the residents, as they would not die in a possible building collapse.
Dr Bhagyashree Kapse, assistant commissioner of N ward said, “We had issued a notice in 2014 and asked them to carry out a structural audit of the building as it was found to be dilapidated during a survey carried out before the monsoon.” She added that residents did not carry out the structural audit, following which the civic body issued two subsequent notices. However, residents claim that they never received any notice from the BMC.
The Damji Sadan building was constructed 55 years ago, and rented out under the Pagdi system. Around 32 tenants – 13 residential and 20 commercial — who have been residing here for over 30 to 40 years were not ready to vacate.
According to residents, the original owner of the building had sold the building to a developer who never came to see the building in the last seven years. “The developer might have received the notice,” said Nitin Mehta, a tenant.
“We must be given time to find a new home to shift. The sudden action left us to come out of the home with our all belongings,” said Champaben Parekh, an 80-year-old tenant.
BMC VS RESIDENTS
- Despite a notice from the BMC in 2014 to vacate the building, residents continued to live in the crumbling Damji Sadan.
- The civic body now claims that its new approach has saved the lives of the residents
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