The deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of the area too had promised protection to carry out demolition.
Three months after dna exposed an illegal 11-storey load-bearing structure on 111, Zakaria Masjid Street – constructed in a matter of one month's time during Diwali holidays – the civic officials are dragging their feet from initiating any action.
The civic engineers and assistant commissioner of B-ward, in fact, by turning a blind eye, has provided the developer with sufficient time to lay the sewerage lines too. A symbolic demolition action, for civic records, last weekend proved an eyewash as civic staff just conducted some symbolic hammering and left after being approached by the developer's men.
Only on Saturday, municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta had warned the assistant commissioners of all 24 wards to take action against unauthorised constructions or face the music.
The deputy commissioner of police (DCP) of the area too had promised protection to carry out demolition. However, the B-ward officials hesitated and delayed the action, even after it was scheduled on the list.
Shrinivas Kilaje, assistant commissioner of B-ward, however, had told dna on Thursday that once notice is served, action will be taken to take the case to logical end. "Action has been initiated and the entire building will be razed. Illegal buildings will be demolished no matter how much work they have carried out. We have slapped notices to all the illegal buildings in the area," Kilaje had said.
However, no action 'initiated' by the officials is to be seen at the site. Residents of the area claimed that the civic official leading the team was seen speaking to the developer's men after which they left. "In fact, they ordered snacks for the staff who did not proceed with action," said a resident.
When contacted by dna, Vishal Mhaiskar, who was leading the demolition on that day at two places simultaneously, insisted that demolition went on till evening. However, residents of the neighbouring buildings claimed that civic officials were misrepresenting the facts as is evident from the site.
Residents claimed that in the last fortnight works on laying of sewerage lines were being carried out. "How can sewerage lines be connected without BMC officials getting involved. They don't require occupation certificate or completion certificate, yet they have all the amenities such as water, electricity, sewerage etc.," pointed out a resident.
Residents have been complaining that there is no space to park the vehicles as number of vehicles in the area have doubled due to sudden mushrooming of multi-storey buildings. Sewerage and water supply are also affected, and most importantly, these flat owners are not even paying any kind of taxes.
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