The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Tuesday told the Bombay High Court that it has withdrawn its order to requisition privately constructed buildings to use as quarantine centres. This came after the Bombay High Court had stated that the move by the civic body was completely “unjust and unfair” as the tenants awaited their homes in horrifying conditions.
The BMC had been planning to use the Sea Green building at Worli, Sahyog homes 22 storeys SRA building in Andheri West amongst many others as redevelopment projects for COVID-19 care facilities. However, a dozen petitions were filed against the BMC by Sahyog Homes Ltd and others challenging the move to requisition private buildings. It went on to direct the BMC to file a detailed response stating particulars of the building that had been requisitioned for isolation facilities, which included their bed capacity and the number of individuals quarantined.
Through advocates, Nilesh Gala and Karl Tamboly, many city developers, housing societies and other petitioners had moved court after the BMC failed to notify them the time period for which it was taking ownership of these buildings and the compensation it would give to the people in exchange. The petition stated that hundreds of families had handed over their original tenements to developers and had been residing in transit camps or in other accommodation. This was agreed upon as the developers had agreed to pay for their interim alternate accommodation. Furthermore, the petition stated that the developers have taken several years to finish the redevelopment work and also stopped paying the residents for their non-permanent, temporary arrangements.
The BMC which was represented by senior counsels Aspi Chenoy, Anil Sakhare and advocate Joel Carlos further stated in an affidavit that the requisition was made under the Epidemic Act and The Disaster Management Act which provides for such requisitions. They spoke of the shortage of quarantine facilities adding that it was only done for the good of the citizens.