BMC officials say despite being told in writing that their buildings were dilapidated, residents are yet to move out. Shankarlok that collapsed in Vakola was one such building
The Shankarlok building that collapsed on Friday was by no means the first highrise that has come crashing down in the recent past.
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If people continue to reside in dilapidated buildings, they are risking their lives, warn BMC officials. Pic/Nimesh Dave
Shockingly, despite the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) routinely warning residents of dilapidated buildings to vacate the structures, many housing societies continue to flout eviction notices in the hope of cheating death.
The BMC has so far issued notices to over 200 buildings where the residents are yet to take congnisance of the notices. A senior BMC officer said that the moment an old building slated for redevelopment is declared dilapidated, some residents stick around in the building in the hope of a better deal from the developer.
Shankarlok building was declared dilapidated and the high court had passed an order absolving the BMC of responsibility for any untoward incident after one family refused to vacate the structure.
When asked about alternate accommodation being given to the residents of dilapidated buildings, Sanjay Deshmukh, additional municipal commissioner, western suburbs, said, “If it is a BMC building we can provide accommodation but we can’t do it for private buildings.”