Sewer provides ground for bldg

MUMBAI, December 22: Residents of Irla, Vile Parle west, are up in arms against the BMC for allowing the construction of a shopping com...

MUMBAI, December 22: Residents of Irla, Vile Parle west, are up in arms against the BMC for allowing the construction of a shopping complex right above an open flowing sewer, better known as the Irla Nala.8217;Thane8217;s Sairaj building collapse tragedy in November this year is still fresh in the minds of concerned Irla citizens, mainly because Sairaj building was also built on top of a drain, with the active assistance of Thane Municipal Corporation officials, some of whom were immediately arrested after the collapse.

8220;It is shocking to see the frenetic pace at which the concrete structure is coming up above the Irla Nala, even as the dirty water continues to flow through below. It only goes to prove how desperate some parties are to grab prime land in Vile Parle, even if it happens to be over an open drain,8221; commented Rajesh N Mehta, BJP president of ward 106 under which the Irla Nala falls.

On behalf of the people of Irla, Mehta has already shot complaint letters to municipal commissioner Girish Gokhale,deputy municipal commissioner of zone 3 Chandrashekhar Rokade, and also deputy mayor Gopal Shetty, among other BMC representatives.8220;In case the BMC has allowed the construction over the nala, it is unfortunate, because it will lead to the onset of an irrevocable offence,8221; states Mehta8217;s complaint letter. He adds the people living in the neighbouring slum areas such as Indira Nagar 1 amp; 2 will also be in great trouble due to this illogical and hazardous construction as the sewer tends to overflow in the monsoons.8220;With shops over the drain, how will BMC clean and maintain the open nala? The irony is that two slums were earlier forcibly shifted from the area because the sewer used to overflow in the monsoon season. But now BMC wants to legally do such a thing. Have they forgotten the Sairaj building collapse?8221; he asked.

Though the concerned ward officer k-west, C L Dube, was not available for comment, sources have informed that the concrete structure was cleared and sanctioned at the highest levels of thecorporation in September this year.Deputy municipal commissioner zone 3 C Rokade said: 8220;The proposal was cleared much before I took over as the DMC. But I have recalled the files dealing with the Irla Nala construction after getting complaints, and we shall definitely do the needful.8221;Deputy mayor Gopal Shetty, who has personally visited the spot, told Express Newsline: 8220;Basically the BMC had to provide 600 square feet of space for a shop owner as compensation for acquiring his original shop in Kurla. Hence this Irla spot was chosen as the alternate accommodation for the shop. The drain will continue to flow below the structure.8221;However, Mehta questioned the need for choosing the sewer as the spot for alternate accommodation and further alleged that the construction is much more than the designated 600 square feet.