Twenty-nine tenants of the four-storeyed Good Hope Chambers in Dongri, which collapsed on Monday have declined the temporary accommodation offered to them by MHADA officials.
They demanded accommodation in Sewree, Wadala or Colaba; enter their homes to collect valuables
Twenty-nine tenants of the four-storeyed Good Hope Chambers at Nishanpada in Dongri, a portion of which collapsed on Monday morning killing three and injuring 10, have declined the temporary accommodation offered to them by MHADA officials at Vinoba Bhave Nagar in Kurla.
The residents, evicted from the building after its rear portion collapsed, objected to the 'pitiable' condition of the transit accommodation and camped themselves in the lawns of Najafi House, an adjoining building. The state housing board had offered temporary accommodation to those rendered homeless on humanitarian grounds.
Abdul Rehman Mithwani, a 52-year-old tenant residing on the building's third floor, said, "We were provided a 150 sq ft accommodation. The apartment was in a pathetic condition." The tenants, who visited the Kurla flats together at 11.30am on Tuesday, found the accommodation too cramped for comfort.
Another tenant, 24-year-old Mohammed Aslam Supariwala, said, "The house that we were allotted was already occupied by another family. Claiming that they had encroached illegally, MHADA officials moved them out. Children from the evicted family were crying outside the house even as we were handed over its keys. We decided against staying there." Tenants also objected to the location and demanded accommodation at tenements in Sewree, Wadala and Colaba. Executive Engineer of the Mumbai Building Repairs and Reconstruction Board, BP Shirvalkar, said, "There is no room available at these locations. I have requested them to shift to Kurla for the time being."
Even as MHADA-appointed contractors were propping the structure and clearing debris on Tuesday, residents demanded that they be allowed into their homes to recover their belongings. "I want to get in just once to change my clothes for the Shab-e-Baraat processions in the evening," said Shaida Lamba, a tenant.
Tenants crowded around Shirvalkar demanding entry into the unsafe structure. The executive engineer, however, said that unless the structure was completely propped, residents cannot be allowed inside. At the time of filing this report - giving in to the demands of the tenants - the structure was partly propped and a member from each family was allowed to recover valuables from their homes.
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