BMC suspends three officers for Mahim building collapse

The three officers of the Buildings & Factories (B&F) department to be suspended are assistant engineer Chandrakant Shende,sub-engineer Digambar Satam and junior engineer Pravin Rane.

Kunte,admitting that there was negligence on part of BMC,said an inquiry has also been initiated against Grade-I level employees — ward officer of G-North Narayan Pai (now retired) and executive engineer Chitore.

“We found there was negligence on part of these officials in addressing Merchant’s complaints on illegal constructions/alterations at Aftab Manzil and decided to suspend the three engineers from the G-North B&F department. An inquiry is being conducted against them as well as the G-North ward officer and executive engineer,” said Kunte.

He added that as Pai retired less than four years ago,he could still face inquiry.

A part of Aftab Manzil collapsed on June 10,killing 10 persons and injuring seven. At that time,BMC had said prima facie,poor construction material was to blame and maintained that there was no record of complaints of alleged illegal alterations.

Kunte said it was found that a structural audit of the building was conducted at least a year before the collapse. “The residents had got a structural audit done and were aware that the building needed repairs that would cost them Rs 30 lakh. The society was could not gather enough funds,” said Kunte.

Mumbai Police said Sandeep Bafna,the owner of the ground-floor Maruti showroom — Fortpoint Automotive — had sent a copy of the audit report (conducted by architect Chetan Raikar) to them. Bafna,who claimed in the sessions court last week that the collapse wasn’t his fault,is absconding,along with Iqbal Ibrahim,the owner of the building’s basement. “Bafna had hired a private contractor in 2009 for the audit. His lawyer is using the report to claim he is innocent,” said Dhananjay Kulkarni,DCP,Zone V.