KDMC demolition drive to go on without rehab plan :Hindustan Times

Once we demolish unsafe structures, new buildings will come up, and we can frame policies in a way that they benefit both tenants and owners. The policy will be finalised by the upcoming general body meeting on August 20. E RAVINDRAN, KDMC commissioner

KALYAN: The Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) has decided to continue with its demolition drive against dilapidated buildings, despite stiff opposition from affected residents, for whose rehabilitation the civic body has no plans.

Those obstructing the demolition will be booked under sections of the Indian Penal code (IPC), the municipal corporation act and the Disaster Management Act, 2005. It was decided in the general body meeting held on Monday.

The drive against dilapidated buildings was launched after a three-storey building, Matr ukr upa, collapsed at Thakurli on July 28, killing nine people.

A list of 43 dangerous buildings was prepared. However, affected locals have posed a major problem to the KDMC, often stopping officials from razing their homes, in the absence of a rehabilitation policy.

A day after the Matrukrupa collapse, the KDMC provided a civic hall to residents of the building, to be used till August 5. Later, they were shifted to a night care center in Dombivli. However, most of the residents have left the centre and are lodged with relatives, said civic officials.

Kalyan has no permanent homes to rehabilitate those vacated from dilapidated buildings, on the lines of the Vartak Nagar rental homes in neighbouring Thane. These apartments are even equipped with a sewage treatment plant, solar panels, two play schools and two community halls.

In the general body meeting, civic commissioner E Ravindran said the civic body is not responsible for the rehabilitation of residents living of unsafe structures.

“Once we demolish such structures, new buildings will come up, and we can frame policies in a way that they benefit both tenants and owners. The policy will be finalised by the upcoming general body meeting on August 20,” said Ravindran.

About a week ago, residents had forced civic officials to stop demolishing unsafe buildings in Bhoir Wada, Dombivli.

“The details of tenants of such buildings will be collected. Once a builder approaches us for permission to construct a new building, we will try to get legal affected residents rehabilitated, under the rules of tenant FSI,” Ravindran said.

Protesting against the KDMC’s decision to carry on with the demolitions, Narendra Pawar, Kalyan (West) MLA, met the civic chief along with some residents.

He demanded the tenants be rehabilitated before demolishing their homes. He also alleged some of the buildings in the unsafe structure list are stable. “Several residents have told me their buildings are not dangerous. Some KDMC officials seem to be favouring owners and builders,” said Pawar.