Show-cause notice proof to be examined

MUMBAI: The Mumbai civic body will now examine the show-cause notice it had sent in 2010 to leasee M/s Pure Drinks Pvt Ltd, asking why it should not terminate the 999-year lease and demolish the illegal structures — residential buildings in the Campa Cola compound — on the Worli plot, after it concluded hearings with residents last month.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will now examine evidence, as per a Bombay high court directive, said a senior civic official, requesting anonymity. The court had directed additional municipal commissioner AL Jarhad to conduct hearings with residents of Campa Cola compound, and had given the BMC four months to examine its 2010 notice.

“We still have time. But it won’t take that long, as the hearing is over. We will examine the documents and evidence submitted during the four sessions with residents before we decide on anything,” said the civic official.

After leasing the plot from the state government, Pure Drinks sold a portion to a developer, who built the housing complex. Years later, in 2010, the BMC issued Pure Drinks a show-cause notice, asking it to explain why the lease should not be terminated. Residents of the buildings in Campa Cola compound moved court requesting that the BMC consider them as direct leasees as Pure Drinks sold the plot to them.

In July 2016, the BMC slapped them with a notice, asking them to pay a penalty for construction irregularities. This order was recalled by municipal commissioner Ajoy Mehta in February this year. The court had then directed the additional municipal commissioner to give the residents a hearing.