Did illegal alterations cause Mahim building collapse?

Was it Monday’s torrential rains or illegal alterations responsible for the collapse of Altaf Mansion? As the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation sets out to investigate the cause of the collapse, additional municipal commissioner Mohan Adtani said, “Prima facie, it has been found that the portion between the first floor and the ground floor crushed first. This led to the collapse of the remaining floors of the building.” The civic body is still to lodge a complaint with the police.

Pillar of death
The theory that currently holds sway is that of illegal alterations. After all, Altaf Mansion was neither a 100 years old nor one of several thousand buildings paying MHADA an annual repair cess, neglected due to rent control laws making repairs financially unviable for landlords. Residents of Cadell Road are claiming that the building had alterations made not only in the ground floor, which was occupied by the showroom but also in the basement where the showroom’s cars were parked.

Burden of Illegal Extensions
It has been also alleged that at least some of the flats had illegal alterations and extensions. In fact, the standing portion of the building itself shows the first floor windows extended and enclosed.

Was The Basement Planned?
A retired chief fire officer said it is highly unlikely that permissions for car parking in a basement were given as far back as three decades ago when the building plans were proposed. Not only are car-park basements a newer phenomenon, but the many conditions that are laid down when permitting basement parking also appear to have been flouted.