Shiv Sena, BJP demand ordinance to save Campa Cola flats

With the Supreme Court setting the May 31 deadline for residents of illegal flats in Worli's Campa Cola compound, the ruling combine of Shiv Sena-BJP in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has demanded intervention by the state government.

Sena leader and Mayor Sunil Prabhu insisted that the state government issues an ordinance to save the occupants of the unauthorised apartments on humanitarian ground.

"We have been supporting the residents and will continue to do so. But the BMC can't do anything in the wake of the SC order. It is the government which will have to step forward and issue an ordinance considering this case as a special matter," said Prabhu after meeting the affected residents at the civic headquarters.

According to the mayor, the state's urban development department headed by the chief minister and the municipal commissioner will have to sit together and find a solution to end agony of the troubled occupants.

Meanwhile, the BJP took potshot as Kunte raising doubts over his alleged stand of not protecting the residents. Ashish Shelar, BJP's Mumbai unit chief, accused the municipal commissioner of working at the behest of 'somebody'.

"The chief minister had assured on the floor of state assembly that he would consider the case of the residents. Kunte, however, is taking a stand opposed to that of the CM's. That means something is fishy. We would like to know whose word the commissioner is following," said Shelar.

Shelar though claimed that his party did not support unauthorised constructions. "But we think the BMC should first hear the case of the compound residents sympathetically," he said, adding, "His party will take to the street if need be."