08 July,2014 11:56 AM IST | | Pooja Kalwar and Chetna Sadadekar
While residents claim they have been trying to meet the BMC to work out a solution, the latter told the court in a hearing yesterday there was no such thing available within the ambit of law
The Supreme court has once again asked residents of Campa Cola society and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to find an amicable solution to the issue. However, the civic body argued in court that no such solution could be worked out within the ambit of the law.
Also read: Campa Cola: BMC completes phase 1 demolition
After the BMC disconnected their power and water supplies, residents continue to live in their homes, using candles and the society washroom. File pic
Seeing this attitude of the civic officials, residents are upset, as they believe there is a way out that is in the interest of both the parties. But, the civic authorities have constantly rebuffed their attempts to do so. The residents' lawyer also argued that the apex court had, in its order, never explicitly asked the BMC to demolish the structure.
Also read: Candles, society washroom help Campa Cola residents survive
Replying to this, the court asked the residents' counsel to file, within a week, an amended interim application, asking for direction given by the Supreme Court in its earlier orders. Kamini Jaiswal, advocate for Campa Cola residents, said, "We will be filing the amendment as the court has given us a week to do so."
When asked whether the possibility of an amicable solution was discussed, she said, "The court did ask us to find an amicable decision, but the BMC was not at all keen on doing so. They told the court no such thing was available." The court was also adjourned for two weeks.
Meanwhile, the residents are not getting their hopes up. A resident of B Y Apartments told mid-day, "The Supreme Court had told the BMC the same thing even before. If the civic body doesn't follow their directives, we will lose our homes."
Also read: BMC pulls the plug on utilities of Campa Cola flats
The civic authorities also submitted an action taken report to the apex court yesterday. When asked to comment on the developments in the case yesterday, Mohan Adtani, additional municipal commissioner and in-charge of the demolition process, said, "I will be meeting my officials on Tuesday morning and have not received the court's order yet. I only know that the court was adjourned for two weeks."
