NAVI MUMBAI: City activists have questioned NMMC on why over Rs 7 crore civic funds have been wasted on the Multipurpose Building Project in sector 14, Vashi, even though the building still lies in a state of incompletion, while also being unstable.
Vashi based activist, Vaibhav Sawant, said: "The NMMC project for a ground-plus-two multipurpose building structure was announced way back in 2011. However, its construction is still incomplete at the site, although Rs 7 crore has already been spent on it. Recently, I was shocked to learn from civic sources that the building may be demolished soon, since it is `structurally unstable'. It is therefore a matter of shame that this building project could not be completed on time, and now it may face demolition.''
Sawant has formally demanded the civic body to conduct a full-fledged inquiry into this project and also how the Rs 7 crore funds can be recovered. "Several local hawkers were also to be housed in this building in sector 14. What action will NMMC take on the contractor who was supposed to complete this building,'' he added. When TOI contacted the city engineer, Surendra Patil, he said: ``We have asked the Pune College of Engineering to study the structural stability of this multipurpose building in sector 14. We want to know if this incomplete building will be safe for use later, since there are some issues with it. We do not want to endanger lives by hurriedly completing it for use.''
However, activists reiterated their basic query as to why over a decade has slipped past, but the civic engineering department is still only ``looking at the situation''.
RTI activist Anarjit Chauhan commented: ``It is highly shameful that so much time and money has been wasted on this building structure. Has NMMC taken any action against its engineering officials responsible for it? Why can't the costs incurred here be recovered from the salaries of the civic officials. I also demand a proper probe into what exactly led to the structural instability of this building.''