Last-ditch move: Campa Cola Compound residents approach Narendra Modi

The Congress-NCP run state government has thrown the Campa Cola Compound ball in the Narendra Modi government's court.

Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan in a cabinet meeting on Friday decided to seek legal opinion from the attorney general of India Mukul Rohatgi.

At the meeting, minority development and textile minister Arif Naseem Khan asked the CM to intervene in the Campa Cola Compound issue and find a viable solution. CM Chavan agreed and decided to write to Rohatgi.

"Now, the central government has to give us a legal solution so these illegal flats are not be demolished, and subsequently regularised. We are ready to act over the central government's suggestions. Till then the BMC should not take any action," said a senior Congress minister.

Naseem Khan said many people in the Campa Cola Compound brought houses with their hard earned money. "Most of them are retired. Where will they go? On humanitarian grounds, the state government should extend all possible help to them. We hope the attorney general of India will give us some concrete solution," Khan said.

A senior BMC official said as per the BMC Act demolitions aren't carried out during monsoon. "So, Campa Cola residents will get at least three months' relief. Meanwhile, if we get any order from the state and the centre and the court too agrees, these illegal flats can then be saved," he said.

Opposition leader and BJP MLA Eknath Khadse said the state government is wasting time. "Campa Cola residents approached CM Chavan a long time ago but the government did not offer any help. The state government has to take a decision now. The Centre has no role to play. Now, the Congress is indulging in politics and playing with the life of residents."