A massive housing crisis has been brewing in the satellite city after Navi Mumbai Municipal Commissioner declared around 750 buildings in over 53 societies dilapidated and extremely dangerous to live in.
There is rising discontent among 45,000 hapless residents even as private developers eye an estimated Rs 9,000 crore redevelopment pie in the heart of Vashi.
In the past, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) had issued notices to 443 old buildings constructed by the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) in mid 1980s, out of which 53 were classified as “extremely dangerous” based on structural audit reports.
In June, residents of Ashirwad and Gulmohar societies, each consisting about 16 to 18 buildings, in Vashi’s Juhu Nagar had staged a protest and resisted an attempt by NMMC officials to cut water and electricity connections. NMMC had even tried to forcefully evacuate the residents. It is alleged that the civic body relented after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis came to know about the issue.
In July, the corporation put up hoardings in Vashi’s sector, 9, 10, and 16 stating that these buildings have been declared extremely dangerous and residents should vacate the premises. The corporation will not be responsible for any loss of life or property in case of a mishap, the notices say.
“There is no date of eviction mentioned, but it also means that the authorities can come any time to take action. They tried evicting us in June, but stopped after stiff resistance from the residents. We have already approached the courts challenging these notices,” said Sumesh George, a resident of Ashirwad society.
George alleges that a powerful nexus between managing committees of housing societies, private developers, local politicians, and officials from CIDCO and NMMC is behind the decision to declare the buildings, which can be repaired, dilapidated so that redevelopment can take place.
“Sector 9 and 10 are prime locality in the heart of Vashi where everything is available – schools, college, hospitals, malls and banks. Redevelopment with 2.5 FSI will be a windfall for ‘interested’ parties,” said George.
Redevelopment of these buildings has been hanging fire ever since NMMC took over the administration from CIDCO, the planning authority for Navi Mumbai, in 1995. Soon after the general body election at NMMC, the issue of dilapidated buildings was discussed and a structural audit, carried out by IIT Powai, found the buildings unfit for human habitation.
“We obtained the structural audit report by RG Limaye of IIT Powai submitted in May 1997, through RTI. The report says that tenements constructed by CIDCO in 1985 were not fit for human habitation in just over 10-12 years,” says BN Kumar, a Navi Mumbai resident who also runs an online platform to highlight environmental and developmental issues of the satellite city.
On September 4, Kumar received a cryptic reply to his RTI application seeking information on the issue. “CIDCO said it has handed over the buildings to registered societies and the responsibility of conducting periodic structural audits lies with these societies. CIDCO leased these buildings for 60 years, and even today it is the owner and the onus should be on NMMC and CIDCO to provide transit camps for these residents,” says Kumar.
NMMC Commissioner Annasaheb Misal told Mirror, “These eviction notices to 53 societies have been issued based on audit reports by structural engineers. In case of Ashirwad and Gulmohar, action is based on an IIT report. CIDCO has declared 2.5 FSI for redevelopment as per Urban Development norms, and NMMC’s role is limited to granting construction permissions. Bombay high court has already given a ruling that residents should vacate buildings declared dangerous. As far as redevelopment goes, it is the society which has to decide whether it wants to go for self redevelopment or involve a developer,” Misal said.
