Can’t be aware of all that’s happening in Mumbai: Mayor
MAHADESHWAR HAD NO IDEA OF WHAT FLAGRANT VIOLATIONS WERE TAKING PLACE AT KAMALA MILLS
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Mayor Vishvanath Mahadeshwar on Friday evaded tough questions about Kamala Mills fire incident.
It seems he is not a very well-informed person. He has no idea of what flagrant violations were taking place in the Kamala Mills compound, right under his nose.
His alibi: “I cannot be aware of all that is happening in Mumbai. What do we have the ward officers for?’’ It also took him 12 hours to arrive at the spot, even though he lives next door. His only words of consolation were:
An inquiry has been ordered and a report will be sought to see who is responsible. Action will be taken.
When ANI wanted to know why repeated fire incidents were being reported in Mumbai, the mayor didn’t answer the question. Instead, he said action will be taken against responsible persons for Kamala Mills fire incident.
Talking to ANI, Mahadeshwar said, “Fourteen people have been killed in the fire accident. Inquiry has been ordered and once the report comes then action will be taken against the responsible persons. Some people have informed that they had complained to the ward officer about unauthorised construction. The inquiry report will consist various aspects like any such unauthorised construction, and whether fire audit was done or not, monsoon shed had permission or not.”
When asked whether inquiry will be initiated against concerned BMC commissioner, the mayor first replied: “Whosoever will be responsible, action will be taken.”
When ANI repeatedly sought specific answer, Mahadeshwar finally said, “Whosoever will be responsible, action will be taken. If commissioner is responsible then action will also be taken against him.”
Eatery partners go missing
The Mumbai police has formed five teams to search for the accused in the Kamala Mills fire case. Prominent among the accused are rooftop restaurant partners Hitesh Sanghvi, Jigar Sanghvi and Abhijeet Manka. "They are on the run after the fire broke out," said a senior officer requesting anonymity. One team visited the house of Sanghvi brothers in Byculla and the other team has been rushed to Pune to look for Manka. The family members claim to have no idea about their whereabouts. Their cell phones are under surveillance and will be traced through mobile tower locations once they switch them on," the officer added. Also, alerts have been issued at airports.
Rooftop violations
Though the policy of rooftop was approved by Civic Commissioner Ajoy Mehta a month back and is still awaiting clearance of Mumbai police, pub-owners and restaurants are running from these vantage points without any hindrance. There are no less than seven rooftop eateries in the Lower Parel area, mostly running without requisite permissions. Some of these on Friday were demolished by the BMC. In the Kamala Mills compound there are 36 restaurants.
Fadnavis calls for inquiry
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday directed the BMC Commissioner to conduct an in-depth enquiry into the tragedy. Earlier, an eyewitness told ANI that loss of life Kamala Mills fire could have been averted.