With hours left, residents anxious

MUMBAI: With less than 48 hours to go before the civic body brings the hammer down on the illegal floors of seven buildings in Campa Cola compound in Worli, residents are torn between haplessness, anger and confusion.

While most of the 140 families remained defiant in the face of the civic body’s threat to initiate demolition from Monday, some have started preparations to evacuate the flats.

Following a Supreme Court order in February this year, the BMC has decided to demolish 140 unauthorised flats in the buildings — built from 1981 to 1989 without mandatory sanctions — starting Monday.

Residents said on Saturday they were exploring all options, including that of involving politicians. They have embarked on a highly- publicised ‘ Save Campa Cola’ campaign, spread on social media sites, too.

The residents said they were also hoping for a positive outcome on the review petition they filed on April 1 in the SC.

However, the BMC insisted it will go ahead with its plan. Civic chief Sitaram Kunte said: “We are sticking to the SC order, and will initiate the demolition work on Monday. We are not considering waiting for the result of the review petition as of now.”

KALPAK PATHAK/ HT 15 floors of Midtown, one of the buildings that face demolition, are illegal.