Campa Cola residents look to netas to keep BMC bulldozer at bay

While the residents of Campa Cola Compound in Worli are planning to stage a demonstration at the Kamala Nehru Park in Malabar Hill on Monday in their last-ditch attempt to save their homes, political leaders cutting across party lines are coming forward to help them.

The Campa Cola residents will gather at the gate of Kamala Nehru Park at 9am on Monday.

“We (residents) will gather there and give a memorandum to the chief minster urging him to help us save our homes. Now, he is the only hope for us,” said Nandini Mehta, a resident.

Another resident cited instances of regularising illegal structures in other states like Tamil Nadu, Punjab and Jharkhand to seek help from the CM.

Shaina NC, a BJP leader, visited the distraught residents of Campa Cola Compound to lend her support on the occasion of Dussehra on Sunday. “There are over 50,000 buildings in the city that are illegal and do not have the requisite BMC permissions. But then why only the Campa Cola Compound buildings are being targeted. I request all parties to come together and take up the cause of the residents of Campa Cola Compound,” she said, adding that the BJP fully supports them and will help residents fight for their homes.

The residents have already claimed the support of Union minster for state Milind Deora, minister of state for housing Sachin Ahir, legislator-developer Mangal Prabha Lodha, Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray, ex-sheriff Nana Chaudasama in their fight to retain their homes.

The residents have been asked to vacate their flats by November 11.