Mumbai: Tenants refuse to vacate crumbling Worli building

The Podar Jumbo Kids franchise centre in Worli's Khanna Apartment. Pics/Tanvi Phondekar

The dust hasn't even settled over Ghatkopar's Siddhi Sai Apartment crash, which killed 17, and yet, this posh Worli pre-school, running in a dilapidated building, seems least bothered about the lives of its little ones. The BMC has sent an immediate evacuation notice to Podar Jumbo Kids' franchise centre in Khanna Apartment, that has over 50 students. The school authorities, however, have said they will continue functioning till the structural audit report is out.

The preschool operates on the ground floor of the three-storied building, which also houses Flora Restaurant, a Godrej Nature's Basket outlet and other shops.

Also read - Ghatkopar building collapse: 17 lives lost under debris

BMC's evacuation notice (of which mid-day has a copy) instructs the preschool to stop operating with immediate effect until the building's owner completes a structural audit.

Notices ignored
A local Yuva Sena leader who approached the BMC in a bid to ensure immediate evacuation, citing risk to children's lives, said other residents of the building had already vacated the premises, but the preschool continued to run despite several notices sent by the civic body.

Also read - Shaky foundation: Of Mumbai's 715 'extremely dilapidated' buildings, 677 yet to be razed

"Following an earlier BMC notice, those who were staying in flats from the first to third floor vacated the premises. Six months back, even a government rationing office shifted out, afraid of the structure' dilapidated state. Recently, when I came to know that a building slab had fallen, I approached the BMC to immediately stop the preschool from functioning, as it is very risky for the children to go there," said Abhijit Patil, upvibhaag pramukh of Yuva Sena, adding, "The school charges around R70,000 as fees and doesn't even bother to provide safe premises to their students. If it doesn't evacuate at the earliest, there is a risk of another collapse."

Civic body's warning
The BMC has said if the building owner fails to get a structural audit done at the earliest, it will take the case to court.

"On July 28, we sent a notice to the building owner and occupants, directing the owner to get a structural audit done and submit the report within 30 days. The remaining occupants - the preschool and shop owners - have been asked to immediately stop functioning in the premises until the audit report is out," said a senior official from G-south ward.

Podar speaks
The preschool, however, doesn't seem to be in any mood to pay heed to the BMC. Diana Tyagi, who runs the franchise centre, said she would continue running classes till the structural audit report was out.

Also read - Bhiwandi building collapse: Tragedy struck hours before evacuation

"We are waiting for the structural engineer's report and will take necessary steps after that. We would never endanger children's lives. The part of the building where the preschool is located is absolutely safe, and there's no risk to anyone's life," she added.President of Podar Education Network Dr Swati Popat Vats said, "The school running in that building is a franchise centre. We are checking up with the centre on the issue. Rest assured, safety of children will always be our prime concern."

30
Number of days given to submit the structural audit report

50
Approx no of children at the preschool

Rs 70k
Fees the centre charges