Distressful Respite: What is the point in extending the deadline?

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On November' 13th, 2013 the Honourable Supreme Court of India after taking notice of several media reports stayed demolition of illegal flats in the Campa Cola society in Mumbai's posh Worli area till May 31st, 2014. But What is the point in extending the deadline and granting a distressful respite ?

It's understood that will these residents not resist the demolition on May 31, 2014 when the Bombay Municipal Corporation (BMC) will again try to demolish the 140 illegal flats. Or else in these few months the Maharashtra Govenrment will definitely come out with some solution or ordinance that will protect the illegal flats from being demolished and there is no doubt that the builders will also run away scot-free or with lighter punishment.

Bombay municipal corporation, bmc, supreme court, campa cola society, pratibha building, peddar road, mumbai, mumbai cases
Protest at campa cola society mombai

It is to be noted that there are a lot many buildings that are being well constructed and still standing. Usually what happens that the buyers are well aware of the illegality of flats, but grab them because they are sold at very cheap rates. Similar thing happened in 1980s, where Pratibha building in South Mumbai's posh Peddar Road area flagrantly violated the construction norms. Here, too, many of the floors were not regularised. But residents still went ahead and grabbed the apartments being given away at half the market price. The 36-floor building eventually faced partial demolition for violating FSI norms. Similar things would have happened in Campa Cola Society as well till purchasing at lower price is concerned.

The another basis is that the cost of having house is so high that the very few can afford payment on their own so others have to opt for the housing loan. And the banks usually don’t give loan to the houses that are illegal. Some where the residents are also responsible for all these mess.

Even so cheap, but why such a big risk?

Now when it seems established that the residents partially know the illegality of the flats then why they took such a big risk? It’s probably because we rarely see illegal buildings being demolished due to nexus between the builders, authority and the politicians. The reason for including politicians because it’s well known that real estate is best way to convert black money into white and therefore they have huge nexus with the builders. So the residents also expect that Govt. will play in between and will save the building either by bringing new ordinance or some other means. But the consequence will be not so good because these errant builders will gain confidence and will again flout the norms established by the State Govt. and the respective authorities and again the lives of many people be endangered.

Many incidents of collapsing of buildings built illegally are fresh in mind. On April 4th, 2013, Thane building collapsed, on September 27th, 2013 a residential building built by BMC collapsed, on Jun 23rd, 2013 Dahisar building collapsed and may more are such incidents that killed many innocent people.

Rescuing such illegal buildings will give enough confidence to the errant builders that they can easily flout the norms and build illegal building and nothing will happen to them and people another reason to go for such deals.

Out of the several good things done and commendable decisions taken by Indian Supreme Court let's hope the extension should not be downplay the inherent idea of Honourable Supreme Court to demolish the illegal flats otherwise people will keep dying due to the illegal buildings.

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