We are not responsible if old GTB Nagar buildings fall: BMC

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday opposed the stay on demolition sought by residents, staying in 25, dilapidated buildings at Sardar Colony at GTB Nagar, by saying that if the residents continue to stay there, it will be no less than an attempt to commit suicide.

Advocate Dhruti Kapadia who appeared for BMC said that the buildings are dangerous and may collapse. "The corporation should not be held responsible for it," Kapadia said.

The 25 buildings have around 6,000 tenants. The civic body in its reply to the petition, filed by Vijay Punjabi, said "Allowing the residents to live in dangerous conditions is an attempt to allow and repeat fatal episodes. Some buildings have collapsed in Mumbai due to such attitudes of tenants/flat owners who had not vacated the dangerous buildings."

However, the vacation bench of Justice S J Kathawala and Justice A S Gadkari, posted the matter for further hearing on June 5. The court restrained the BMC from taking any coercive action or demolishing the buildings. Advocate Anand Jondhale who appeared for the society said it is unfair to vacate the residents of the 25 buildings without giving them a chance to re-develop the buildings themselves or through the authorities.

The BMC had last week pasted fresh notices of demolition on the dilapidated buildings and asked the residents to vacate it. This is a part of their preparatory work before the monsoon arrives.