Row over Sterling Centre continues

The issue came up at the board meeting on Thursday when an application was put up by Pannalal M Joshi, Sunder Kishnani, Felix Mascarenhas and Abdul Hamid Majid Khan for regularisation of unauthorised construction by extending the mezzanine floor in the shops and converting the same into regular floor over the ground floor.

Although the board president Brig Madan Gopal pointed out that the lofts were illegal and hence should be removed, the members were adamant that lofts were permitted in the old byelaws and hence the question of removal of these did not arise.

Member Gautam Mahajan 8211; whose relative runs a shop on the mezzanine floor 8211; was categorically told that he could not plead his case since it would be prejudiced. However, he demanded that action should be taken against Cafe Naaz and Mahanaaz for flouting regulations.

Another member Shrikant Mantri maintained that there was no FSI problem and hence the lofts could be recommended for composition. The president, however, was not willing to listen to their argument. The members then said that they would submit a copy of the old bye-laws before the board and then take a decision.