Builder obtains permission to REPAIR a building; constructs nine storey NEW building in South Mumbai instead

IN what can be construed as a blatant and shocking incident, a builder in South Mumbai applied and obtained permission for repairing an old building, and blatantly and openly used that permission to construct a brand new 9 storey building in Dongri, South Mumbai. This was done despite the fact that the BMC had demolished the structure once, claiming that it was illegal. 

Shakil Khan (52), a South Mumbai based businessman, had on May 7, 2018, complained to several authorities (copy with ABI) through legal firm H&M Legal Associates against the illegal building as well as against Uday Shiroorkar, Assistant Municipal Commissioner (AMC) of B- Ward, BMC.

According to the complaint, the building is located at 244, Narsinatha Street, Bhat Bazaar, Masjid (West). One Mehboob Ghanchi alias Soradia is developing the building. The earlier four and half storey building was in dilapidated condition and the structural audit of the building was carried out. Based on the findings of the structural audit that declared the structure and building as diladipated, the same builder obtained permission for repair from Maharashtra Housing Development Authority (MHADA). He shifted 16 tenants somewhere. He completely razed the old building structure and built a new building instead, completely misusing the permission for repair that he had obtained. Thus, on the pretext of repairs, the builder went ahead and constructed a nine storey brand new building instead. The illegal construction work is going on, as of today.

Interestingly, the Assistant Municipal Commissioner is aware about the illegality of the building. He had issued three notices in the past to the contractor Akram Najibul Sarkar and had finally demolished the structure on March 21, 2018.

‘As per the documents available with me, the builder has obtained repair permissions from MHADA. He doesn’t have mandatory permissions from BMC’s building proposal department. He raises the old structure and starts to construct a brand new 10 storey building which is completely illegal. The Assistant Municipal Commissioner Shiroorkar is aware about all these things, but is deliberately looking the other way,’ said Shakil Khan. 

The pace of the builder is mind boggling. The construction work started in March and in two Months, 9 storey building was constructed, raising several questions about the quality of construction as well as raises safety concerns of the new building as well.