MHADA seeks to repair building, leaves out most troubled spot

Residents of Kothari Mansion on Ambedkar Road close to Chitra Cinema in Dadar (east) are a troubled lot and in a peculiar spot. Their agony is Mhada's indifference towards their plight which was created by none other than Mhada nearly seven years ago when they repaired the 70-year-old building.

It was in 2010 that Mumbai Repair and Reconstruction Board (MBBR - Mhada's unit) repaired parts of the building including the terrace. However, soon after the work was done, the terrace started leaking. The repair was the second after the one in 2006, which was again a shoddy one. Residents complained about the defective job during the guarantee period but Mhada did not respond.

"It was never the case before. We never used to have leakages. But the moment they repaired, the terrace started leaking and it gets really bad in the monsoon," said Ramesh Deb, a resident of the building who lives on the top floor.

"All my furniture has been spoiled and I cannot even replace because the problem aggravates during the monsoon. Sometimes it becomes so bad that I have to move my cooking material away and keep a bucket," said Deb whose several complains fell on deaf years.

The residents now are in peculiar spot because the Mhada wants to repair the building again after their inspection but not take up the terrace work which is among the most troubled spots. "We complained to them when the repair work was in guarantee period. Still they have not corrected the problem. Now they want to repair the building but not take up the terrace problem," said Bhaskar Prabhu, another resident.

Mhada, on the other hand, has threatened residents that they will be responsible if something goes wrong with the building. "I am out of India," said AS Ankalgi, resident executive engineer of MRRB. Sumant Bhange, chief officer of MRRB did not respond to calls.

SHOODY REPAIRS

• In 2010, MBBR repaired parts of the building including the terrace. The first round of repairs happened in 2006.
   
• Soon after the work was done, the terrace started leaking.