Hammer time for Worli bungalows
By Gitanjali Das
BMC orders demolition of servant quarters constructed on parking lot of four bungalows in Madhuli housing society.
What started off as a murmur of protests over shrinking parking space in a tony building in Worli quickly escalated into complaints to the BMC about encroachment and illegal structures in the complex. And now, the strains of infighting among residents of the ultra-posh Madhuli Housing Society will be drowned out by the smashing sound of the sledgehammer.
Sources in the society said the luxurious bungalows belong to Ricky and Laila Lamba, Anju Taraporewala, Dr Vijay Paparao and Sushil Kumar Gupta, owner of Indian Textiles. Ricky Lamba admitted it was his bungalow but denied there was any unauthorised construction. Paparao said they were in Dubai and refused to comment further. Anju Taraporewala and Gupta denied they had anything to do with the bungalows.
The orders were based on notices issued last year, along with 14 others issued to flat owners, under section 351 (demolition) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, for illegally covering parking spaces and converting them into servants’ quarters. Mirror had reported about the notices on June 25 last year (Top Worli address gets BMC notice over altered parking lots).
BMC has sent out individual orders to the bungalow owners. The orders highlight ‘unauthorised construction with brick and mortar walls in the basement parking area’ of each of the bungalows measuring approximately 30x54 ft.
The order also says, “You have failed to produce any authentic documents to prove the authorisation of the structures like occupation certificate, approved plan and sanction of MCGM."
The owners allegedly could not produce any documentary evidence to prove either the authorisation or existence of the structures prior to April 17, 1964, due to which the structures were unauthorised and liable for demolition.
The order directed the owners to remove the unauthorised construction and stop its use for residential purposes, failing which it will be demolished by the department, and the charges recovered from the owners as arrears. Violators will be prosecuted under section 475A of the MMC Act, which entails imprisonment up to a year and a fine up to Rs 25,000.
A civic official said, “Orders in the case of these four bungalows have been passed, while action in 14 more notices will soon be taken. We are investigating close to 34 complaints.“
One of the triggers for the infighting in Madhuli was the alleged conversion of a stilt parking area into an art gallery called Art and Soul, which was run by socialite Tarana Khubchandani, wife of society chairman Dr Prakash Khubchandani. When Mirror asked a civic official if there was any order about the gallery, he said that the matter was pending with the urban development department. “Once it is confirmed that the UDD has not given any stay order, it means that the structure is illegal and action will be taken.” Asked about the same, Nitin Kareer, principal secretary, UDD, said, “To my knowledge there is no stay so action should be taken.”
Bimal Maskara, secretary, Madhuli Cooperative Housing Society, told Mirror, “If the BMC has passed such orders, then the law will take its course.”
Madhuli consists of four bungalows and a 14-storey building. Spread across 12,547 sq meters, the society sits between Samudra Mahal and the Praful Patel-owned Ceejay House, has three gardens and a tennis court.
The matter of unauthorised constructions came to a boiling point last year, after which one faction of residents acted as whistleblowers and filed complaints against 43 other residents. The whistleblowers had discovered BMC approved building plans showing that 61 covered parking spaces had been demarcated along with many open parking slots as well. Mirror had front-paged this tussle on March 26 last year.
BMC orders demolition of servant quarters constructed on parking lot of four bungalows in Madhuli housing society.
What started off as a murmur of protests over shrinking parking space in a tony building in Worli quickly escalated into complaints to the BMC about encroachment and illegal structures in the complex. And now, the strains of infighting among residents of the ultra-posh Madhuli Housing Society will be drowned out by the smashing sound of the sledgehammer.
The 14-storied Madhuli comprising 50 apartments and four bungalows with unhindered view of the Arabian Sea is the gold standard of luxurious living in Mumbai. It is these four bungalows that are in trouble – the BMC has ordered the owners to demolish the unauthorised structures, failing which they will face punitive action.
Sources in the society said the luxurious bungalows belong to Ricky and Laila Lamba, Anju Taraporewala, Dr Vijay Paparao and Sushil Kumar Gupta, owner of Indian Textiles. Ricky Lamba admitted it was his bungalow but denied there was any unauthorised construction. Paparao said they were in Dubai and refused to comment further. Anju Taraporewala and Gupta denied they had anything to do with the bungalows.
The orders were based on notices issued last year, along with 14 others issued to flat owners, under section 351 (demolition) of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, for illegally covering parking spaces and converting them into servants’ quarters. Mirror had reported about the notices on June 25 last year (Top Worli address gets BMC notice over altered parking lots).
BMC has sent out individual orders to the bungalow owners. The orders highlight ‘unauthorised construction with brick and mortar walls in the basement parking area’ of each of the bungalows measuring approximately 30x54 ft.
The order also says, “You have failed to produce any authentic documents to prove the authorisation of the structures like occupation certificate, approved plan and sanction of MCGM."
The owners allegedly could not produce any documentary evidence to prove either the authorisation or existence of the structures prior to April 17, 1964, due to which the structures were unauthorised and liable for demolition.
The order directed the owners to remove the unauthorised construction and stop its use for residential purposes, failing which it will be demolished by the department, and the charges recovered from the owners as arrears. Violators will be prosecuted under section 475A of the MMC Act, which entails imprisonment up to a year and a fine up to Rs 25,000.
A civic official said, “Orders in the case of these four bungalows have been passed, while action in 14 more notices will soon be taken. We are investigating close to 34 complaints.“
One of the triggers for the infighting in Madhuli was the alleged conversion of a stilt parking area into an art gallery called Art and Soul, which was run by socialite Tarana Khubchandani, wife of society chairman Dr Prakash Khubchandani. When Mirror asked a civic official if there was any order about the gallery, he said that the matter was pending with the urban development department. “Once it is confirmed that the UDD has not given any stay order, it means that the structure is illegal and action will be taken.” Asked about the same, Nitin Kareer, principal secretary, UDD, said, “To my knowledge there is no stay so action should be taken.”
Bimal Maskara, secretary, Madhuli Cooperative Housing Society, told Mirror, “If the BMC has passed such orders, then the law will take its course.”
Madhuli consists of four bungalows and a 14-storey building. Spread across 12,547 sq meters, the society sits between Samudra Mahal and the Praful Patel-owned Ceejay House, has three gardens and a tennis court.
The matter of unauthorised constructions came to a boiling point last year, after which one faction of residents acted as whistleblowers and filed complaints against 43 other residents. The whistleblowers had discovered BMC approved building plans showing that 61 covered parking spaces had been demarcated along with many open parking slots as well. Mirror had front-paged this tussle on March 26 last year.
