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BMC threatens corporators on Campa protest

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The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday said if any corporator tries to prevent the Supreme Court (SC) -ordered demolition of illegal flats in Campa Cola compound, he will be disqualified.

The Mumbai Municipal Corporation (MMC) Act, 1888, vests this power with the BMC.

If, however, an MLA or MP tries to prevent the demolition drive, all that the BMC can do is to file a police complaint.

The civic body will be video-recording the entire demolition drive this time too, officials said.

On Tuesday, the SC dashed the last hopes of the residents when it dismissed their plea to save their homes and chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said he ‘cannot go beyond the SC order’.

Six months ago, corporators like Makrand Narwekar had stopped the BMC from demolishing the flats. The demolition of the all the 96 illegal flats in the compound was ordered by the SC in February 2013.

Narwekar later denied he was trying to protect unauthorised flats.

“We will have to act as per the SC order. The order clearly says that there is FSI violation and some flats are unauthorised. So, if a corporator plans to protect the illegal structures, he/she is eligible for fitting action, including disqualification from his/her post,” a senior civic official said.

If any member objects to or shoots down the proposal to award the work of razing flats, that will amount to contempt of court, he said.

“Even if they disapprove the proposal next time we table it, the civic chief can get it sanctioned using his powers,” the official pointed out.

Meanwhile, corporators, especially those from the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP combine, who were ready to support the residents, citing humanitarian grounds, have softened their stand.

BJP’s former group leader and member of standing committee Dilip Patel said: “I don’t think public representatives will voice concerns, given that many of the residents themselves feel they have lost the battle. Also, civic officials are firm on their stand. Recently Chavan said he cannot go past the SC order as it will be contempt of the apex court’s order. So, if it can be a contempt on part of public representative like the CM, it is applicable for corporators too.”

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