Mansi Tower survivors return

For six years, they have been living with relatives or were forced to share accommodation on rent with other families.

For six years, they have been living with relatives or were forced to share accommodation on rent with other families. Now, the survivors of Mansi Tower A, which collapsed in the 2001 earthquake, killing 40 persons, are taking possession of the rebuilt tower.

Today, Bharatbhai Choksi 70, was the first one to move into his new flat, A 601. Another flat owner, Amar Gupta and his wife Kalpana, had performed puja two days ago in their new flat A 604. They would move in the next few days.

At least five other families, who have been able to put behind the trauma of losing their loved ones, will move in on August 1. Choksi said he moved into his new flat even though he is yet to receive the building use BU permission from Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority AUDA. Being a retired man, it was becoming extremely difficult for Choksi to arrange Rs 6,500 as monthly rent for the place where he used to stay.

8220;I had no other option. My landlord gave me an ultimatum 8212; either to increase the rent from August 1 or vacate the premises. So, I did not wait for BU permission and moved in,8221; he said.

While the state Government offered a grant of Rs 1.5 lakh per flat for reconstruction, the flat owners themselves arranged the rest of the money needed for reconstruction. 8220;Since all the members did not belong to the same financial category, it led to delay in rebuilding the complex,8221; said Choksi, who has been supervising the construction work free of cost, since it began in September 2002. However, work was delayed, as several of its members, were not able to arrange money on time for the reconstruction. Initially estimated at Rs 5.5 lakh per flat, the construction cost first went up to Rs 6.5 lakh due to hike in building materials prices. Work was once again delayed, and now a three bedroom flat here costs Rs 7.5 lakh.

Constructed as per revised building norms introduced by the state Government after the earthquake, the building is equipped with two elevators and parking space in the basement and on the ground floor.

However, the flat owners this time did not go for a swimming pool on top of the 10-storeyed building as in the previous structure. According to Choksi, it was the load of the swimming pool, which seemed to have led to the collapse. B tower of Mansi complex, according to Choksi, did not suffer any damage, barring a few cracks, as it did not have any swimming pool on its top.