Residents told to vacate 88 dangerous buildings in Uran :Hindustan Times

Municipal council will provide accommodation to the homeless

ONLY RESIDENTS OF SHANTI NIWAS HAVE VACATED THEIR BUILDING WHILE THE REST CONTINUE TO LIVE IN THEIR DILAPIDATED BUILDINGS.

URAN: Taking a cue from the Thane civic body, the Uran Municipal Council (UMC) has sent notices to declared 88 dilapidated buildings, asking residents to vacate them.

The residents of only Shanti Niwas have, however, vacated their building while the rest continue to live in their dilapidated buildings.

Recently, following a ceiling fall in a building at Vani Aali, which had been included in the list of dangerous buildings, a young girl sustained head injuries that required five stitches. There was another instance of a staircase collapsing in another building.

The incidents have spread fear amongst the residents of the buildings residing in structures declared dangerous by UMC. The building collapse incident in Thane has brought the issue to the fore.

According to UMC engineer Jhumbar Mane, “We have sent notices to 88 buildings in Uran Bazaarpeth Mohalla, Mora, Kota Naka and other areas under section 195 of BPMC Act. We have asked them to leave the buildings as they could collapse anytime.”

Mane said, “The notices have been served to the owners of the buildings as well as the tenants. They have been intimated that if there is any accident and consequent loss of life, UMC will not be responsible for it.”

“Those tenants who do not have an alternative place to shift will be provided temporary accommodation by UMC,” he added.

The UMC has also published the details of the dangerous buildings in the local newspapers.

Sources said there is a reason for tenants not moving out. Avinash Patil, a social worker, said, “The conflict between the owners and tenants is preventing the tenants from moving out as they fear that they will lose their rights on the property forever. They prefer risking their lives.”

He said that there was a risk of t he structures collapsing during heavy rains. “We are hoping that the disaster management system will keep an eye on such structures during such times,” he added.