‘Power, water cut as residents don’t vacate buildings’

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has ruled that civic authorities have no right to snap water and electricity supplies in their bid to hasten evacuation of dangerous buildings. However, BMC officials said that residents continued to live in their dilapidated homes risking their lives despite several notices, forcing them to snap the power and water supplies. 

    "Several buildings have been declared as dilapidated during the pre-monsoon surveys conducted by the BMC. Notices were issued to such buildings, but residents don't want to move out and continue to live in rickety structures risking their lives. Therefore, we cut supplies to such buildings to force the residents to shift to safer places," said a senior civic official. 
    The HC was hearing a case filed by the residents of Manjul Darshan Society in Borivli on Monday, who alleged that the BMC had cut power and water supplies to their building that has been categorized as dangerous. The court said that such action can only be taken at the time of evacuation and "not in advance". 
    The civic body has been resorting to this measure as otherwise residents are reluctant to vacate the buildings, which are structurally weak and can collapse anytime. Officials further said that more than 15 days after the BMC disconnected power and water supplies to a few buildings in Tarwadi in Byculla, a section of residents continued to stay there. 
    BMC's eviction drive has gained momentum after a municipal building in Dockyard Road collapsed a few months ago, which killed 61 people. 
    "The high court has asked us not to cut electricity before the eviction day, but the court has also given us a safeguard by saying that the BMC shouldn't be blamed for any mishap," said another senior civic official. 
    Meanwhile, officials say that in case of the Borivli society, their supplies will be reactivated once the BMC studies and court order properly.