A bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri noted the “enormous magnitude” of the problem caused by sewage being discharged into the Ulhas river due to the absence of proper sewage treatment plants (STPs) at 438 allegedly unauthorised structures in Thane district
The bench said municipal councils must take immediate steps to stop the discharge of sewage into the Ulhas River. Representational pic
The Bombay High Court has directed civic authorities in Maharashtra not to grant Occupancy Certificates (OCs) to any structure unless developers strictly comply with building permissions and put in place proper sewage management systems, PTI reported.
According to the news agency, a bench of Justices Ravindra Ghuge and Abhay Mantri noted the “enormous magnitude” of the problem caused by sewage being discharged into the Ulhas river due to the absence of proper sewage treatment plants (STPs) at 438 allegedly unauthorised structures in Thane district.
The court was hearing a petition filed by a Badlapur resident highlighting illegal constructions by a developer.
The bench said municipal councils must take immediate steps to reduce and eventually stop the discharge of sewage into the Ulhas River, reported PTI.
Considering the enormity of the problem, the HC directed all the authorities in Maharashtra, including civic bodies, municipal councils and local authorities to not grant an OC unless a structure is in accordance with approved plans, building permissions and most importantly, unless and until STPs are constructed for high-rise buildings.
The court also ordered the authorities to initiate a drive to take stock of all such buildings where an STP has not been provided by the builder, unless the sewage pipeline is connected to the underground drainage system provided by the civic authorities.
"The authorities shall ensure that there is a move towards blacklisting the builders and construction companies, who do not provide STPs or sewage management for their structures," HC said, reported PTI.
The bench also said that if in future it found that an OC was granted in the absence of such facilities, it would not only blacklist the builder/construction company but also initiate action against the civic authorities.
The court posted the matter for further hearing on January 28.
15 years on, evacuees of unsafe South Mumbai building still await rehabilitation
Fifteen years after being forced to vacate their homes, tenants of Ramchandra Building, opposite GT Hospital in South Mumbai, say they are still battling official apathy, bureaucratic delays, and what they allege is deliberate inaction by their landlord, even as parts of the structure continue to collapse.
The building was declared unsafe in 2011 after a major portion gave way, prompting authorities to immediately evacuate residents. However, no rehabilitation plan, transit accommodation, or rent compensation was provided. “Since then, 35 families have been living in rented homes, bearing the financial and emotional burden of displacement for the last 15 years,” said Jagdeep Sambhwani, secretary of the dilapidated structure.
Despite the structure being categorised as dangerous, residents allege the landlord continues to collect pagadi from them. “Even though we have not been able to occupy our homes since 2011, the landlord has been collecting pagadi from all of us. Including cess, it comes to around Rs 10,000 per year. Ideally, pagadi and cess can be collected only if the premises are occupied. But neither are we living there, nor has the landlord maintained, repaired, or redeveloped the building,” said Haresh Purohit, treasurer of the dilapidated structure.
In October 2023, the Bombay High Court directed both the landlord and the Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority (MHADA) to submit a concrete redevelopment plan within four months. “That deadline expired in February 2024. No proposal has been submitted so far, nor has any clear timeline been shared,” Sambhwani said.
(With PTI inputs)
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