Ask residents of the MHADA row houses at SVP Nagar, claiming that the civic body, which is demolishing illegal structures on their residences, is giving similar structures on bungalows the benefit of doubt
Ask residents of the MHADA row houses at SVP Nagar, claiming that the civic body, which is demolishing illegal structures on their residences, is giving similar structures on bungalows the benefit of doubt
The BMC's bulldozers have been particularly active recently, with the civic body razing to dust the illegal floors constructed by tenants on the row houses developed by the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) at Sardar Vallabhai Patel (SVP) Nagar in Andheri (West). The residents however, have cried foul, alleging that the body is only demolishing row houses, while the illegally constructed floors atop MHADA bungalows in the locality remain untouched.
Torn down: BMC's bulldozers demolished illegal structures built by
tenants at MHADA's row houses in Sardar Vallabhai Patel Nagar, near
Andheri on Friday. Pic/Mahesh Chafe
Speaking to MiD DAY, resident Bandya Sawant said, "We welcome the demolition drive undertaken by BMC to pull down the floors which were constructed illegally by tenants. But the civic body should exercise neutrality and level those floors, which were constructed illegally by the bungalow owners at SVP Nagar. They too have violated the rules laid down by MHADA."
At a meeting conducted on Saturday, office bearers of all 98 societies in SVP Nagar congregated at the K-West BMC office, in the presence of BMC and MHADA officials, with the latter requesting residents to demolish the illegal structures on their own initiative. The representatives, however, levelled the counter allegation that the illegal floors constructed on bungalows were being given the benefit of doubt. According to them, the officials failed to give an adequate response to their allegations.
"When we asked them why such step-motherly treatment was being meted out to us, the officials refused to answer us," said a society member, on condition of anonymity. There are around 200 MHADA bungalows at SVP Nagar, ranging between 100, 80 and 60 metres. As per the rules stipulated by MHADA, tenants staying in bungalows cannot construct any floors atop the first floor.
However, a quick walk around the area will make it amply clear that the bungalow owners have violated these rules. This inequitable treatment meted out by the civic body has raised the hackles of the society members.
In course of its demolition drive, the civic body is set to raze 4,362 illegal structures in Andheri (West), of which 2,943 are situated in SVP Nagar, 973 in Adarsh Nagar and 44 in the Laxmi Industrial Estate. Till date, 2,320 structures have been demolished, while 2,042 structures will have faced a similar fate by the time the drive concludes on May 31.
The Other Side
Asked if the BMC was going to demolish the illegal floors constructed atop some of the bungalows at SVP Nagar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner of K-West ward Ramesh Pawar said, "We cannot gauge whether alterations have been made, simply by looking at the structures. Our officials will have to conduct a survey, to measure the heights of the bungalows against that permitted by MHADA. Only after these measurements are made, will we be able to take any decision." He went on to say, "At present, we are focusing our energies on demolishing the illegal floors of row houses in SVP Nagar. We are planning to bring down all the illegal structures at SVP Nagar by May 31."
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