BMC files case, Grand Paradi on shaky ground
The Grand Paradi cooperative housing society at Kemps Corner, home to some of the richest businessmen of Mumbai, found itself in a soup after the BMC filed a case against it in the metropolitan magistrate court for not reinforcing its podium which is in ‘ruinous condition and likely to collapse’, posing a danger to residents as well as passersby.
Grand Paradi comprises of 14 row houses and three 26-storey buildings. Below the podium is the society’s parking space. The society is home to Smita Crishna Godrej; Arun Diwan Nanda, executive director, Yes Bank; Gautam Doshi, managing director, Reliance ADAG; Rani Kapur, former mother-in-law of actress Karisma Kapoor, and Avinash and Niranjan Naik, sons of the late chief minister, Vasantrao Naik.
The BMC’s application, which names the society, its chairperson Jyotsna Tanna and secretary Sachin Sheth as accused, states that no attempt was made to repair the plazalevel podium despite a notice being served to the society in July. Two inspections conducted in July and September had revealed that chunks of concrete at the bottom of the beams supporting the podium had fallen off at several points, while exposure of the reinforcement to the atmosphere had led to corrosion. Moreover, it said that the podium did not comply with fire department norms as it could not withstand the weight of the fire brigade’s latest engine, which has a 90-metre hydraulic fire ladder that can reach 30 floors, weighing a whopping 51 tonnes.
The civic body was acting on complaints made by two residents of the society, NM Shah and late NN Bhagwati, both structural engineers themselves.
“My biggest concern was the safety of the residents. It is a disaster waiting to happen. In case the podium collapses, it will affect the building, the row houses which are situated on it, as well as the parking underneath. A structural consultant approved by the society’s managing committee had, while renovating the podium, made two major blunders. One was reducing the height of the T-shaped beams supporting the slab by 3 inches, reducing their strength by 40 per cent. Second was the reuse of used, rusted steel reinforced bars of 1974,” alleged Shah.
In July last year, Mirror had reported that, after inspecting the premises, the BMC had served the society a notice under section 354 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, giving it 30 days to reinforce the podium or build a new one altogether and set up a fence to protect passersby and the surroundings from any damage.
It also stated that only the entrance bay of the podium was supported by heavy girders underneath, while the exit portion was not. However, an inspection in September revealed the society had failed to fulfil these recommendations.
Devidas Kshirsagar, assistant commissioner, D ward, said, “The society failed to comply with the requirements despite a notice, hence they were prosecuted as per section 475A of the MMC Act.” The maximum punishment under this section can be three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000.
The first hearing of the case is scheduled for February 18. The society’s chairperson Jyotsna Tanna said, “We will be putting forth our case during the hearing. Reinforcing the podium is going to be an extremely tricky procedure as per our architect. It will have an impact on the entire area of the society.”
Grand Paradi comprises of 14 row houses and three 26-storey buildings. Below the podium is the society’s parking space. The society is home to Smita Crishna Godrej; Arun Diwan Nanda, executive director, Yes Bank; Gautam Doshi, managing director, Reliance ADAG; Rani Kapur, former mother-in-law of actress Karisma Kapoor, and Avinash and Niranjan Naik, sons of the late chief minister, Vasantrao Naik.
The BMC’s application, which names the society, its chairperson Jyotsna Tanna and secretary Sachin Sheth as accused, states that no attempt was made to repair the plazalevel podium despite a notice being served to the society in July. Two inspections conducted in July and September had revealed that chunks of concrete at the bottom of the beams supporting the podium had fallen off at several points, while exposure of the reinforcement to the atmosphere had led to corrosion. Moreover, it said that the podium did not comply with fire department norms as it could not withstand the weight of the fire brigade’s latest engine, which has a 90-metre hydraulic fire ladder that can reach 30 floors, weighing a whopping 51 tonnes.
Chief fire officer, P S Rahangdale, told Mirror, “The podium needs to be strengthened in a way that it can take the weight of the new fire engine. Otherwise there is a possibility that the podium could collapse under its weight.”
The civic body was acting on complaints made by two residents of the society, NM Shah and late NN Bhagwati, both structural engineers themselves.
“My biggest concern was the safety of the residents. It is a disaster waiting to happen. In case the podium collapses, it will affect the building, the row houses which are situated on it, as well as the parking underneath. A structural consultant approved by the society’s managing committee had, while renovating the podium, made two major blunders. One was reducing the height of the T-shaped beams supporting the slab by 3 inches, reducing their strength by 40 per cent. Second was the reuse of used, rusted steel reinforced bars of 1974,” alleged Shah.
In July last year, Mirror had reported that, after inspecting the premises, the BMC had served the society a notice under section 354 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, giving it 30 days to reinforce the podium or build a new one altogether and set up a fence to protect passersby and the surroundings from any damage.
It also stated that only the entrance bay of the podium was supported by heavy girders underneath, while the exit portion was not. However, an inspection in September revealed the society had failed to fulfil these recommendations.
Devidas Kshirsagar, assistant commissioner, D ward, said, “The society failed to comply with the requirements despite a notice, hence they were prosecuted as per section 475A of the MMC Act.” The maximum punishment under this section can be three years’ imprisonment and a fine of Rs 50,000.
The first hearing of the case is scheduled for February 18. The society’s chairperson Jyotsna Tanna said, “We will be putting forth our case during the hearing. Reinforcing the podium is going to be an extremely tricky procedure as per our architect. It will have an impact on the entire area of the society.”
