Kamala Mills Fire: Govt to investigate procedural lapses

Mumbai: The State government will initiate a probe into alleged procedural lapses in the redevelopment of the Kamala Mills Compound land, which had witnessed a massive fire in December that left 14 dead. The probe will be led by a retired judge after approval from the High Court. A retired official from the Urban Development Department and an approved urban planner will also be part of the committee.

Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadnavis, on Tuesday, said that the wrong policies of the previous government are responsible for the Kamala Mills Compound fire. Fadnavis said that according to the mill land redevelopment policy in 1999, the then government decided to allot one-third of the mill land each to Maharashtra Housing and Area Development Authority, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and mill owners. But the decision was changed in 2001.

Fadnavis pointed out that the Congress-NCP government gave away the entire mill land to mill owners and developers by that decision. This ensured that mill workers do not get their rightful homes. In 2007, FSI of 95,000 sq mt was given for IT purposes and misused. NCP MLA Jayant Patil rebutted the allegation.

“We are not worried about any probe. The question is about the fire at Kamala Mills, and whether the corporation is responsible for the fire,” he said.