BMC sends final evacuation notice to Campa Cola residents

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a final notice to the residents of the illegal flats in the Campa Cola society in Worli on Monday. The notice asks them to vacate their homes and handover the keys of the flats to the municipal ward office. On failure to do so, the BMC has threatened legal action.

Civic officials will accompany residents home to take possession of the flats on the day they hand over the keys to their homes. File Pic

Despite all their efforts to regularise their unlawful flats, residents now seem to have no choice but to leave their homes. According to the notice, the civic body has asked inhabitants to submit the keys to their flats to the ward official from May 29 to June 2. The authorities have also instructed them that their staffers would accompany them to take physical and vacant possession of the flats on the same day.

Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner and in-charge of the demolition, said, "If people don't cooperate with the BMC and do not vacate the premises, we will approach the Supreme Court for further guidance."

The apex court had maintained its order which had asked the residents to vacate their flats by May 31. Residents had, a few days ago, sought help from newly appointed Prime Minister Narendra Modi by writing to him through his official website. But, they haven't yet received a response.

The homeowners also met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya. In every building in the society, only the first five floors are legal. Yet, they are prepared to fight for their homes. Dr Nandini Mehta, a resident the compound, said, "I will fight for my house till I die.

I won't leave it, no matter what the notice says." Dr Vidya Srinivasan, another resident, added, "We hope the Supreme Court gives us an opportunity and hears our plea before demolishing the flats."