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| Byculla residents live another day | | | Agencies
MUMBAI,June 16:housands of people living in municipal buildings in Byculla have written to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), stating that they are ready to risk their lives, but not vacate their buildings. The 11 buildings consisting of 276 flats, home to nearly a thousand people, have been declared as dangerous by the BMC. The planning authority on Saturday decided to disconnect the water and electric supply to these buildings, but they were unable to do so as it met with strong opposition from the tenants. Residents of dilapitated buildings in Byculla protest the BMC orders. Pic/Shadab Khan
Earlier this month, the BMC had issued notices to the residents of dangerous buildings in Mumbai, asking them to vacate the buildings and stay in transit accommodation, failing which they would disconnect their water and electric supply. However, these 11 buildings of Byculla that had also been served notices on June 4, refused to vacate the buildings. Hence, the BMC decided to go ahead with its plan. To stop the BMC official from disconnecting the essential services, the tenants came out on the streets, blocked the roads and forced the official into not carrying out the work. Finally, the official left without disconnecting the water and electric supply.
The BMC has postponed the action for a few days. “More than 2,000 people had gathered on the spot, so we decided to postpone the action to avoid a law and order problem. Also, the residents gave us a letter stating that they will continue to stay in the building at their own risk,” said Vasant Prabhu, deputy municipal commissioner, Zone I. He also informed that the BMC has disconnected water and power supply of another building ‘20 Tenement’ (residents are tenants of BMC) located in the nearby area.
Residents speak
“We have been paying rent to the BMC since many years. They don’t clean our building premises and roads outside our building, which if kept dirty, spread water-borne diseases. They don’t do their work properly. How do they expect us to vacate our premises in the monsoon?” asked a tenant on condition of anonymity, at building no 17. Another tenant, Deepak Maheskar, who stays at building no. three, said, “My old parents suffer from heart ailments. “ |
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