12 years on, Andheri building continues to flout fire norms

Builder has made illegal alterations, defaulted on property tax for 4 years; Also has illicit water connection

No lessons have been learnt from the Kamala Mills fire on December 29, 2017, in which 14 lives were lost. How else could a six-storey building on SV Road, Andheri (W), continue to exist for the past twelve years, without a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the fire department? The building does not even have a legal water connection.

The builder has made internal changes to the building structure by extending the mezzanine floor, building rooms on the terrace and above the parking lot and has not paid Rs 22 lakh in property tax for four years. For the illegal water connection, the builder has been penalised with a Rs 26 lakh fine. These constructions are not a part of the blueprint approved by the BMC, The Free Press Journal confirmed.

There is a hotel, Delight Inn, occupying three floors of the building for the last six years, and operating without a health licence.

The Free Press Journal has the letter of observations from the inspection conducted by the fire department on this building. The letter states, “The fire system of the building was found in a nonworking condition and the concerned party has failed to produce necessary permissions for the trade of lodging and boarding.”

An officer confirmed that the fire department had asked the hotel to obtain the requisite permissions and had threatened to issue notices if these were not produced in time. “We have asked the hotel to comply with fire norms. We will be sending them notices next week,” said fire officer.

The builder Nayan Savani, Padmavati Buildcon Private Limited, has been slapped with a penalty of Rs 26 lakh for stealing water. “The building has no water connection, but during inspection, a water line was found in the building,” the notice sent to Savani has pointed out. Besides, the builder has also not paid property tax amounting to Rs 22 lakh for four years.

When The Free Press Journal contacted the builder, he asked for fifteen days to respond.

The water department of the BMC had also written a letter to the DN Nagar police station to file a First Information Report (FIR) for water theft. The police station, in response, had asked the BMC to send an official with all the information to register an FIR. However, the BMC has not yet sent any official. Parmeshwar Ganame, a senior police inspector at DN Nagar police station, said, "The BMC is sorting out the matter and has not filled an official complaint with the police station till now. After a complaint is lodged, we can initiate a proper investigation in the case." The official from the water department declined to comment on the issue.

A resident of the area also complained about the illegal construction on the terrace by the builder. “Savani has constructed rooms on the terrace of the building and an office above the parking lot,” said a resident of SV Road.

Shiv Sena member of Parliament (MP) Gajanan Kirtikar had also written to the municipal commissioner regarding illegal construction and threat due to non-compliance with fire regulations.

“But despite the congnisance of the MP, the BMC has failed to take any action,” claimed another resident.