Nowhere to go, 83-year-old stuck in creaky building in Mumbai

Celine Sequeira has been residing in the 40-year-old building for 32 years. Pics/Satej Shinde

With the redevelopment of an old residential building in IC Colony stuck in litigation, a senior citizen is the only one left in the four-storey structure. With no income amid the lockdown, things turned worse for Celine Sequeira, 83, after the BMC cut power and water supply a month ago.

Sequeira at her 2BHK home

Sequeira lives in the Stone Castle Co-operative housing society in Borivli West. She has been asked to vacate her 2BHK flat by the BMC but has nowhere to go. Before the lockdown, Sequeira used to earn a living by keeping three to four girls as paying guests. But they, too, went to their hometowns. "I wanted to get myself admitted to an old-age home but due to COVID, no one is ready to admit me," Sequeira said.

Sequeira has been living in the flat, which was owned by her brother Paul, for 32 years. She moved there after her husband Paul died.

"I haven't eaten in two days. I am living in darkness as there's no power. People from the church have been helping me with drinking water but I can't live like this for long, I will die," Sequeira said.

"If I were to get rent money from the builder, I would have survived. But all doors are closed. Only the gas pipeline is still operating but I don't have money to buy groceries. The church is also helping me with medicines but how can one survive without water and electricity? Why is the BMC doing this to me?" Sequeira said. Her building has been declared as dilapidated.

Why project is stuck

Most of the flat owners from Stone Castle society had agreed to redevelopment by the Chauhan Group. However, some went to court. Jayesh Chauhan of the Chauhan Group told midday, "I can't help this woman as I haven't received development rights yet. If my project starts, I will pay rent to all society member or provide accommodation."

Helen D'Silva, a 45-year-old cancer patient who resides in another wing and has opposed the redevelopment along with 12 other members, said, "We have total 72 flats and 57 society members, some of whom own two flats. My building is not dilapidated. We registered a case against the developer, BMC and the society over the redevelopment. On April 6, the BMC disconnected the power and water supply. They had served a notice to vacate in January. It is not possible to live like this. My health will be further affected. Police have been of no help either."

The opposing members say they got the building audited by a private auditor who categorised it under C2-B (no eviction but requiring major repairs, fixing of leakages), while the BMC categorised it under C1 (very dangerous, recommends vacating immediately).

Abraham, the society's secretary, said, "The repairing cost of the building is more than the redevelopment cost, I, too, am facing a financial crisis. I used to get rent from my flat in this building, but that has stopped now. Living in 40-year-old Stone Castle is not an option though." The local assistant municipal commissioner could not be reached despite several attempts.

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No. of society members opposing the redevelopment