BMC counts 155 dilapidated buildings

There is no survey for private buildings, as neither the BMC nor the Maharashtra Housing Area and Development Authority MHADA is responsible for the maintenance of these buildings.

Said Prabhakar Shinde, council member in charge of special engineering which looks into building repairs, the survey was carried out over the last three months by civic officials at the ward level. The report has also carried out a detailed survey of building which could collapse during the rains. Repair work has also been suggested for such buildings. Dangerous parts of the buildings like hanging roofs and broken staircases have been demolished to avoid their usage.

In some buildings, repairs couldnot be carried as tenants did not grant permission. However, notices have been sent to owners of all such buildings with instructions that they be repaired at the earliest. In A-ward alone, for instance, 15 dilapidated buildings have been added this time.

Shinde also confirmed that the building residents have been served notices to vacate. quot;But we cannot force them to do so, as most residents do not have alternate accommodation,quot; he admitted, adding the municipal corporation does not provide alternative accommodation to residents during the monsoon.

Although the actual figures of people residing in these buildings are not available, BMC officials said it was practically not possible for the BMC to provide accommodation to all. He added that due to the shortage of transit camps, which are under MHADA, it would not be possible for the BMC to request MHADA to let out their transit camps for the building residents.