The tenants of hundreds of buildings notified by the BMC and other approval authorities as extremely dangerous – C1, unfit for human habitation – are in a quandary over lack of redevelopment assurance, and therefore continue to stay in these rickety structures.
Following the Kurla building collapse last month, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has instructed the civic authority to get all C1 buildings evacuated and offer them alternate accommodation. While the tenants said they are ready to cooperate, they are unsure of redevelopment of their original buildings.
Jitendra Soneji, a resident of C1 pagadi building in Ghatkopar, said that there should be a provision in law.
“Our matter is in court over why the BMC has not razed our structures. However, the residents of other C1 buildings that have been demolished are staying in extreme hardship. There’s no accommodation or rent, with no surety of time-frame of redevelopment,” he said.
The treasurer of Pagadi Bhadut Sanghatna, a registered association of residents from C1 buildings, Dharmendra Vyasa said MHADA is the custodian for cessed buildings, whereas non-cessed buildings in the suburbs are given only C1 notice, with redevelopment rights with the landlord, who allegedly doesn’t do anything.
Vyasa said, “Several such tenants have been evicted but no redevelopment has been initiated by the landlord. Also, his NOC is required even if tenants come together to carry out redevelopment. This condition needs to be changed.”
Nilesh Maru, a resident of Kandivali, whose building was demolished after it was declared C1 said, “We are fed up with the government not acting. In the upcoming municipal elections, we will not cast our votes.”
