The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) Improvement Committee meeting witnessed an uproar on Wednesday over a proposal allegedly favouring a builder.
The developer had implemented projects to rehabilitate slum dwellers and in turn received construction benefits. However, the buildings were found to be dilapidated soon after, and the BMC levied a fine of ₹70 crore on the company. But it recently backtracked on the fine and instead, allowed the same builder to rebuild the buildings. The proposal was deferred in the meeting following a discussion.
In the early part of the millennium, the BMC allotted a vacant plot in Lower Parel to a builder to construct rehabilitation tenements for slum dwellers in Worli. In turn, the builder received Transfer of Development Rights. The developer built around 600 tenements of 225 sq ft each and allotted them to the slum dwellers. When the complex was handed over to the BMC, it found the buildings to be in poor shape and had to demolish them.
In 2016, the BMC sent a letter declaring its intention to levy a fine of ₹70.66 crore for flouting contract norms but the builder countered the letter stating there was no issue with the construction. The BMC has now accepted the company’s contention and instead of levying a fine, asked the same companyit to reconstruct the buildings free of cost. The builder has been asked to construct 300 square foot houses in a 15-storeyed building. The BMC contends that it will cost it the same to have new flats constructed by the builder instead of constructing them on its own.
When the proposal was tabled before the committee on Wednesday, members opposed it. Congress corporator Ashraf Azmi said, “I want to know who authorised this scheme in the first place? Was this committee’s sanction taken? Once the buildings were constructed, were they given an occupation certificate? How was such a poor-quality construction given a certificate without a structural audit? If not, how were slum dwellers shifted there? I have heard that families were given tenements that were half the promised size. There should be a detailed inquiry in the matter.”
Shiv Sena corporator Kishori Pednekar said, “The builder gave us peanuts and instead took away the meat (TDR). Even if the builder is penalised now, what is the point when slum dwellers did not get houses. We have been duped.”
Bharatiya Janata Party corporator Prakash Gangadhare too opposed the proposal, saying the controversial company should not be given a second chance.