Occupants of the ground-plus-floor Arif Manzil which is situated at the LT Road and SV Road junction in Dahisar (E), which is declared as a dangerous building and had been put in the C1 category by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), say that the building is not in a dangerous condition anymore, as it has undergone repairs since the past four months. The occupants also claimed that they had pooled in money so that the repair work can be undertaken and have also submitted a report to the local civic office regarding the same.
At the entrance of the building, a letter issued by the office of Assistant Commissioner of R/North Ward issued to a consulting structural engineer which had carried out repair works of the said building was put up which stated that, "You are hereby instructed to submit your explanation for carrying out repair works to the said building without statutory permission from any authorities. You are also instructed to submit details of structural audit of Arif Manzil building, details of the scheme as well as details of work executed by you."
The letter, which was issued on June 10 and was put up at the building on June 21, further stated, "You are directed to get all the requisite ND tests done as per IS Codal provision wherever you have carried out the repair works to the said building and submit the reports within 15 days to R/North office. The tests should be carried out by taking representative samples of entire building from all four sides. Based on the reports of the ND tests, you are also directed to comment on the structural stability and life expectancy of the building after carrying out the repair works."
"If you fail to submit the test reports, further necessary against you such as deregistration shall be initiated and Committee would be at liberty to take final decision. During Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) you were directed to submit undertaking cum indemnity bond from all tenants/occupants of Arif Manzil building indemnifying BMC and its officers against any untoward mishap/incident/collapse/fall of any part of building in near future as the repair work has been carried out without obtaining any permission from BMC. The same shall be submitted immediately to this office," the letter concluded.
When this correspondent visited the building, which also comprises commercial shops at the ground floor, he was not allowed to enter the premises.
What residents say
One of the shopkeepers, on the condition of anonymity said, "The building has undergone a repair over the period of four months. There are around 12 families staying in the building on tenancy basis and all of us have pooled in money and got the repair work done. We have also submitted the report of the repair work to the BMC and fire brigade office. The building is not in a dilapidated state as of now and is completely safe to stay."
What officials say
"Arif Manzil building was earlier in the C1 category and later the building was repaired without taking any permission from the authorities. The occupants gave us the audit report which is now being looked into by the TAC. TAC will take a final call on the report submitted by the occupants. If anyone wants to get the C1 category building repaired then required permissions should be obtained from the authorities because there has to be structural repair," said Assistant Municipal Commissioner, R/North Ward, Sandhya Nandedkar.
