Exclusive | Mumbai: In Juhu, the dust never settles

An investigation by mid-day, based on information received by a whistleblower, has revealed that developers in Juhu have refused to heed stop-work notices issued by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. A letter from K West ward to MHADA authorities dated February 29 provided by the whistleblower revealed that after a survey was carried out in Juhu based on residents' complaints, three under-development projects in the area had been issued stop-work notices while eight had been issued show-cause notices for violating BMC-issued pollution guidelines.

Letter's contents

The letter, a copy of which is with mid-day, states, "As per the Air Pollution Mitigation Guidelines, this office has formed squads and the same has visited the various sites under construction. The squad has issued notices to the sites which are not following the guidelines."

The letter, signed by Prithviraj Chauhan, assistant municipal commissioner of K West ward, continues, "These developers are not complying with the guidelines issued by hon'ble municipal commissioner, BMC, vide above reference and the planning authority for the said buildings lies with MHADA. It is once again requested to direct the staff concerned to take appropriate action concerning Air Pollution Mitigation Guidelines and give relief to adjoining residents… Please treat this as important."

Also Read: Mumbai: Rampant construction work leaves Juhu residents gasping for air

Violations galore

The whistleblower said, "We were receiving constant complaints from the residents of Gulmohar Road and JVPD about developers flouting pollution norms. The ward office formed squads to visit the under-construction projects to check compliance with guidelines. Sadly, it seems that the developers are not abiding by the notices."

The investigation

When this reporter, posing as a property buyer, visited the three sites that had been issued stop-work notices, on the weekend, work was still going on. He spoke to several individuals at each spot. The conversations are as follows:

Chayya Residency
NS Road no. 5, JVPD Scheme, Juhu

Security guard Dinesh Chaurasia speaks to the reporter at the Chayya Residency site in Juhu on 3. Pics/Anurag Ahire

Dinesh Chaurasia, a security guard at the construction site revealed that no flats were for sale in the project.
Reporter: Yaha pe BMC ne kuch issue kiya hai kya? (Was something issued here by the BMC?)

The Chayya Residency site in Juhu on 3. No flats were available for sale in the project

Dinesh: BMC issue karte rehti hai lekin kaam to chalta rahega. Hamare saath aaju baju me kaam chalu hai unko bhi kuch notice bheji hai lekin kaam sab jaghe pe chalu hai. (The BMC keeps doing that but the work should go on. Some others have also been served notices, but their work hasn't stopped.)

Lotus Venture
Kuber Villa, CTS no. 305, NS Road, JVPD Scheme, Vile Parle West

Contractor Ram opens up to the reporter at the Kuber Villa site

Ram, the contractor, told this reporter that no one was concerned about the civic body.
Reporter: Yaha pe BMC ka kuch issue nahi hai na? (There isn't any issue with the BMC, is there?)
Ram: Kuch lafda nahi hai (Nothing of the sort.)
Reporter: Maine suna hai ki BMC ne ye area me bohot saare construction projects ko notice bheji hai. Apne project ko koi issue nahi hai na? Flat book karne ke baad issue nahi hoga na? (I have heard that BMC has issued notices to many construction sites. This project isn't one of them, right? After booking a flat, there won't be any issues, right?)
Ram: Koi masla nahi hai yaha BMC ka. Kaam chalu hai dekho aap khud. (No. As you can see, the work is ongoing.)
Site in-charge Sambhu Kumar confirmed that a stop-work notice had been issued. He also revealed that despite lacking permission to carry out work on Sundays, it was happening as he took the BMC and police into confidence.
Reporter: Mujhe pata chala hai ki ye area me BMC ne kuch notice bheji thi bohot projects ko to is se project ko koi problem nahi hoga na? (I have come to know that BMC has issued a notice to many construction sites in the area. Is the project going to be affected by this?)
Sambhu: Dekhiye, BMC ne bohot log ko notice bheji hai kyuki pollution ka issue ho raha tha. Humko bhi stop work notice aayi hai lekin uska project ko koi problem nahi hoga. Diwali tak project khatam ho jayega. Plinth ka kaam hote hi RERA ka registration number bhi aa jayega. Hum log manage kar lete hai ye sab cheeje. BMC sabko notice bhejti rehti hai. Aaj to kaam ki permission bhi nahi thi fir bhi kaam to chal hi raha hai. Project ko kuch problem nahi aayega notice ke wajhe se. (See, the BMC has sent notices to many construction sites due to the pollution issue. Even we have received one, but it won't affect this project. We usually manage such things. The project is scheduled to end by this Diwali. Once the plinth-laying work is completed, we will get our RERA registration number. We manage everything. The BMC keeps sending notices to everyone. Today, we didn't have permission to commence work but we managed it by taking the BMC and police into confidence. The project will not suffer because of the notice.)
Reporter: Pakka koi problem nahi hoga na? (Are you sure that there will be no issues?)
Sambhu: Ha sir aap tension mat lo hum log sab manage kar lete hai koi issue nahi aayega. (Don't worry sir. We manage everything. There will be no issues.)

Parinee Vir Bhuvan
Elenora, CTS no. 10, plot no. 5, NS Road

The site of Parinee Vir Bhuvan's Elenora project

The contractor at this site revealed that the builder's office was closed as it was Sunday but work was still ongoing.
Reporter: Mujhe pata chala hai ki ye area me BMC ne kuch notice bheji thi bohot projects ko to is se project ko koi problem nahi hoga na? (I have come to know that BMC has issued a notice to many construction sites in the area. Is the project going to be affected by this?)
Contractor: Sahab notice aayi hai lekin kaam chalu hai. Koi problem to ho nahi raha hai. Bas pani ka fawara chalu karte hai thodi thodi der me pollution ke liye. (A notice has been sent to us, but work is still ongoing. We are not facing any issue. Just that we turn on the water fumigation from time to time for the air pollution issue.)
Reporter: Pakka koi issue nahi hoga na notice ke wajhe se flat book karne ke baad? (Are you sure there will be no issues after booking a flat despite the notice?)
Contractor: Nahi. koi issue nahi hoga. (There will be no problems.)
Emails and messages sent to respective builders remained unanswered by press time.

Official Speak

Chauhan told mid-day that the notices were issued based on pollution-control guidelines set by the municipal commissioner and rising complaints about the norms not being followed. "Since the permission-giving authority to these projects was MHADA, this office has also written a letter to it to take stringent action against the developers. These developers don't fear or respect the orders issued by the BMC. Hence, we had to write to the MHADA to take stringent action against them." A MHADA spokesperson said she would need to verify the matter before making any comment.

The projects in Juhu that received show-cause notices over violation of pollution guidelines
>> Hutkunj Project, CTS no. 283, N S Road no. 2, Vile Parle West
>> Krishna CHS, CTS no. 194, plot no. 511, NS Road no. 3
>> Concord CHS, 101, CTS no. 05/16, Gulmohar Cross Road, JVPD Scheme
>> Chandravilla, plot no. 26, NS Road no. 12, Jai Hind CHS, JVPD Scheme
>> Ila CHS Ltd, plot no. 3, CTS no. 196(A), JVPD Scheme
>> Alaknanda Gurukripa, CTS no. 195/191 A, Gulmohar Cross Road no. 10
>> Dyan Project, Middle Class Friends Society, CTS no. 1, NS Road no. 10
>> Parinee Anamika, CTS no. 195/19, Gulmohar Cross Road no. 10

08
No of projects issued show-cause notices