Allegations fly as bldg falls

Local corporator Ikhlak Ansari has alleged that the building and factories department is responsible for the collapse of Good Hope building.

Repeated complaints to the BMC by 28 tenants of the building — which was included in the MHADA cessed buildings list — had fallen on deaf ears. A letter from Congressman and opposition leader Rajhans Singh was sent to Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak’s office demanding the suspension of those officers responsible for abetting illegal constructions. The officers had allegedly refused to take action against Mehrunissa, a tenant who had illegally constructed an extra floor.

Blaming sub-engineer Asmatullah Sheikh, Ansari said, “Sheikh took action against tenants who had complained against Mehrunissa and issued notices to residents to demolish their lofts. He even asked tenants to withdraw their complaints. BMC is unable to take action against Mehrunissa as she managed to get a stay order from the City Civil court in April 2007.”

Assistant Municipal Commissioner SY Gadkari said, “We had informed MHADA about the condition of the building in April. BMC issued notices to all tenants. We received complaints about the illegal mezzanine construction. Earlier, an FIR had been registered against Ansari for beating up Sheikh.”

RG Karkhanis, deputy chief engineer of Mumbai building repairs and reconstruction board, said, “That the Good Hope building had illegal constructions was brought to the notice of the BMC in 2005. MHADA has already issued notices to the tenants.”