After AG G E Vahanvati ruled out an ordinance to legalise illegal floors, residents hope the amnesty scheme floated by corporator Makarand Narvekar will be accepted by court
Relief is what most residents of Campa Cola compound are feeling right now, but they are also thinking ahead. Their legal team is hard at work to find solutions to their problem, after the Attorney General of India G E Vahanvati categorically told Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan that an ordinance regularising the illegal floors could not be passed since the law of the land had to be upheld, and a permanent solution had to be arrived at.
Relief is here: Residents hug each other after the SC stayed the demolition order. Pic/Sameer Markande
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Residents now harbour hopes that the amnesty proposal floated by independent corporator Makarand Narvekar will be approved. MiD DAY had reported that Narvekar, the Law Committee chairman, had sent a letter to the Mayor, asking that buildings which violated only FSI norms be regularised and given occupation certificates, in exchange for penalties and fines (‘Penalise buildings, but give them OC’, November 8). There are over 3,000 such structures in the city.
MiD DAY’s report on November 8
The Supreme Court has asked for various options to find a solution to the problem in a hearing on November 19. On the same day, corporators will also meet to discuss the feasibility of Narvekar’s proposal. Narvekar is confident that his scheme will be accepted.
He said, “After the letter that I had sent to the Mayor, he had asked me to float a Notice Of Motion. The NOM is on the agenda and will be discussed in the general body meeting to be held on November 19. I have spoken to various corporators and all are convinced. There are chances it will be passed without any opposition, as all political parties had come to help Campa Cola residents.”
Vidya Srinivas, a resident of Campa Cola society, said, “Wednesday was a peaceful night for us. Thursday came with fresh sunshine. The battle is yet to be won, and hence, our legal team is back in action again. They are looking at various other options to save our homes and find a permanent solution. November 19 is going to be a very important day for us. If the BMC passes the proposal, we will be relieved. And if the Supreme Courtfinds a permanent solution, then it would be a dream come true.”
State housing minister Sachin Ahir had suggested putting the buildings into redevelopment after demolishing the illegal floors (‘Campa Cola may be redeveloped’, November 14). But inhabitants didn’t agree to the plan.
Residents are returning to normalcy, with the BEST restoring their electricity connections and other utilities. But in every house, people are waiting for November 19 and what it has in store for them.
3,000
Number of buildings in the city that violate FSI normsu00a0
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