140 families residing at Worli's Campa Cola Compound have fought an expensive legal battle to save their homes from BMC hammers.
After meeting with residents, BMC agreed to not carry out demolition on Tuesday.
Here's what happened earlier in the day:
BMC officials were stopped from entering the Campa Cola compound in Mumbai as the residents protested against their eviction.
* The residents have refused to leave.
* High drama outside Campa Cola society as residents remain defiant.
* Compound gates locked as residents are ready for the last battle to save their homes.
* Residents raise protest march inside compound with slogans of "we want justice".
* Yuva Sena leaders and BJP MLA Mangal Prabhat Loda trying to convince police and BMC officers not to take so strict action.
* Bulldozers reach Campa Cola Compound.
* Residents agree to have a meeting with BMC officials and police.
* Mumbai police readying to move inside the compound.
* Police detain protesting residents.
* Meeting between Campa Cola residents and BMC officials fails. Efforts being made to break open gates.
* The civic squad has brought along heavy demolition equipment, and is geared to undertake disconnection of electricity and water supply. A van of Mahanagar Gas Limited was also seen, apparently to disconnect the PNG supply.
* However, so far the Chief Minister has shown no signs of relenting and accepting the demands made by the residents. Chavan did not want to go against the legal opinion of the advocate general.
* The municipal commissioner, instead of taking an action against the builders, served demolition notices to about 100 flats above the fifth floor. The builders had permission to construct the residential towers not more than five floors, but they flouted the norms.
* Police, BMC, Mahangar gas, BEST teams enter the compound.
* Union Minister and south Mumbai MP Milind Deora said he has appealed to the residents to cooperate with the agencies.
"I have appealed to them to cooperate with the agencies,"he said.
"My duty is to represent them (residents). I don't want to give them false hope," he said.
"It is a very categorical order by the Supreme Court," Deora said, replying to a query on options like the state government issuing an ordinance to provide relief to the residents.
"Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has been in favour of supporting residents. He understands the humanitarian aspect involved. But he also knows that there are legalities involved," Deora said.
Deora spoke of "collusion" between builders and local officials which led to the flouting of norms. "It is important to ensure that the builders don't go unpunished," he said.
For the past few years, the 140 families residing at Worli’s Campa Cola Compound have fought an expensive legal battle to save their homes from BMC hammers.
* Deputy Commissioner Kishore Kshirsagar said, "BMC verifying how many residents have vacated their houses. Today we will cut water and other supplies."
* BMC says four teams will be surveying the compound, illegal flats and will act accordingly.
* Seven high-rises were constructed at the Campa Cola Compound between 1981 and 1989. The builders had permission for only six floors, but constructed several more.
Read: Tears, anger to take on BMC hammer at Campa Cola
Also read: FIR filed against civic staff, developers of Campa Cola
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in its notice to the society had said it has organised demolition of illegal floors on November 12.
As many as 100 families are occupying 35 illegal floors in seven buildings of the housing society.
Various parties, including the Shiv Sena-BJP which rules the BMC, have extended their support for the cause of the residents, saying they will oppose the razing.
Shiv Sena and BJP have threatened to join agitating residents when civic body employees carry out the demolition tomorrow.
Meanwhile, residents of illegal floors in Campa Cola Compound vowed to keep up their fight when BMC initiates demolition process tomorrow.
On October 1, the Supreme Court ordered the residents to vacate illegal flats, above the fifth floors of six out of seven buildings on the premises, by November 11, while occupants of Shubh Apartments will have to move out by November 30.
Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray's son tweeted,
Mumbai Police yesterday issued a notice to the residents under section 149 of CrPc warning them of appropriate action in case of any law and order problem during razing.
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