67 per cent dangerous homes in city still occupied: BMC

Meher Mansion, built in 1901, on Cooperage Road, Colaba, has been included in the BMC’s dilapidated list. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The BMC has published a list of 331 buildings in the city, which are in a dilapidated condition. Of these, 67 per cent are still occupied, putting residents at severe risk.

Every year, before the monsoon, the municipal corporation releases a list of dangerous and unsafe buildings. This year, 331 buildings fell in the C1 category - these structures are beyond repair and need to be demolished immediately. The numbers are fewer when compared to last year, when 456 buildings were declared dangerous. During the last one year, 165 of these buildings were vacated and demolished. In 2019, the BMC had put 619 buildings on its dangerous list.

However, 224 of the 331 buildings are still occupied. "People don't realise how dangerous this can be. They think they will stay another monsoon. There are court stays on some buildings. Others have redevelopment issues," said an official from the BMC.

Out of 331 buildings, 96 are in the South city, 166 in the Western suburbs and the rest in the Eastern suburbs. B Ward comprising Bhendi Bazaar, JJ Hospital area has only three buildings, while L ward (Kurla, Chembur) has only 12 buildings in the C1 category. "There are many illegal buildings, but they do not come under this list. Even MHADA publishes their own list, which comprises cess buildings in the South city," said a BMC officer.

Major monsoon mishaps

July 2020: A portion of a building collapsed in Fort, killing 10 people.
August 2017: Al Husaini building collapsed in Bhendi Bazaar, killing 33.
July 2017: Sai-siddhi building, Ghatkopar, which was not on the dilapidated list, collapsed. 16 people were killed.
September 2013: 61 died after a building at Babu Genu Market, Mazagaon collapsed.