BMC can evict tenants from ‘dangerous’ buildings soon

To avoid loss of lives in building collapses, the civic body is framing new rules to give itself more power to evict tenants forcibly from dilapidated buildings.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has listed 244 buildings as dangerous and highly dilapidated in its pre-monsoon survey; 192 are private buildings and 52 municipal.

A source from the BMC’s law department confirmed the drafting of such a rule, which has been sent to the civic chief for final approval. “After approval from the municipal commissioner, the BMC will be able to evict residents forcibly from their homes,” said a civic official.

The BMC usually sends notice to the tenants of such buildings, but often there is resistance from residents to vacate or even initiate repairs. Though the BMC has declared the 244 dilapidated buildings across the city as unsafe during monsoon, residents continue to risk their lives in these deathtraps as they don’t have a choice.

The BMC or the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority offers them transit accommodation, but it is located in Malad, Ghatkopar, Borivli, Dahisar, Sion and Chembur. In south Mumbai, most tenants want private builders to undertake redevelopment of old buildings, but the process often gets stuck in the tussle between landlord and tenants.

Municipal commissioner Subodh Kumar and additional municipal commissioner Aseem Gupta, both, didn’t respond to calls.