Althan residents demand new houses

SURAT: A large number of residents of Althan tenements located on Udhna-Magdalla road took out a rally here on Monday to demand immediate redevelopment of their dilapidated buildings.
In their memorandum to municipal commissioner Milind Torwane, they said their seven low-rise buildings were built by Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC). They said around 700 families live in these tenements allotted to them 35 years ago.
The SMC had asked for permission from the residents to redevelop the tenements a year ago. Eighty-five per cent of the residents had given their consent but the municipal corporation was yet to begin the redevelopment work.
The residents said should any mishap happen at the buildings during the monsoon season, then the responsibility of that would solely be of the municipal corporation.
"When over 85 per cent of the residents have given their go ahead, then what stops the SMC from not undertaking the redevelopment work?" asked Mansukh Khorasiya, a resident.