When lives don't cost a thing

In Mumbra you are left to the mercy of builders and politicians. Most constructions are illegal, and dangerous. But neither residents nor the politicians seem to care enough. At least not until a tragedy strikes, and mostly not even after that.

Visiting the site of the Shruti building collapse, Jitendra Awhad, NCP MLA from the area, said, “The government should take serious steps to save residents of dangerous buildings. If the government does not take a decision on rehabilitating residents of dangerous buildings, we will evacuate them and forcibly accommodate them in municipal corporation’s properties.” Ironically, it was Awhad along with politicians across  major parties, who had opposed the TMC move  to evict residents of dangerous buildings unless it provided them alternative accommodations.

On April 6, a seven-storey building at Lucky Compound, Thane, had collapsed. Then, the TMC discovered a nexus between politicians,  builders and  administrative staff of the TMC. A total of 22 people were arrested including five TMC  officials.

The TMC released a list of illegal and dangerous buildings. While 1,097 buildings were declared dangerous, 57 were pronounced very dangerous. It said all the dangerous buildings will be evacuated and action will be taken against the illegal ones. “After three months what has the TMC done? The commissioner has been on leave for the last two months. How do you expect work to be done,” said Mangal Patil, who had been sending letters to the TMC informing it of the illegal construction in Lucky compound. TMC’s woes were compounded when politicians decided that they will not let the evictions happen unless alternative arrangements were made.

Residents say at one time there were only five storey buildings in Mumbra. Now there are 11-storey towers, which is illegal but have come up only because of political interference.