The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has enlisted 721 structures in the Mumbai that may not stand the wrath of monsoon.
Ramesh Zaveri’s livelihood banks on his embroidery shop located in the corner of a Jawahar Nagar building in Goregaon (West). Zaveri, has been residing in the building for the past 45 years, but now stands to lose everything. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has enlisted his building as one of the 721 structures in the city that may not stand the wrath of monsoon.
Zaveri, however, like many other residents of Jawahar Nagar is in a state of oblivion about the future of his house. “Which notice? Is our building in the danger list? No notice has reached us,” said a surprised Zaveri.
Notices to vacate the dilapidated buildings haven’t reached all the residents yet. “A year ago, we received a BMC notice, which was put up on the building wall by our owner. We have even complained to the BMC and appealed to the owner for help, but no renovation work was ever undertaken,” said Beena Chauhan, a resident of one such building, who has been residing in Jawahar Nagar since 1940.
Even Dilip Patel, the municipal councillor from Goregaon reiterated the dismal tale. “Why should we vacate? The owner should be compelled to renovate the building. The owner doesn’t stay here and he will be elated if the building collapses. It’s we who have been shelling out money wherever repairs are required.”
The residents, who have spent their lives slogging every monsoon, feel that the danger list issued by the BMC has come too late. “The slab above my balcony fell in 2008 and cleaves in the pillars are widening with every passing day. But where do I go, and why should I?” said Vijaya Shedge, a resident.
Majority of the tenants blame the owners and claim that it is their irresponsible behaviour which has caused the problems. However, Ramiklal Thakkar, an owner of a four-storey building claimed his building was in good condition and required no maintenance. “BMC has wrongly put our building on the list,” he said.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}