The entire Sion Kamgar Co-operative Housing Society has been declared dangerous, a development that has now been taken note of by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner Ashwini Bhide, who has ordered a fresh inspection by the deputy commissioner.
The issue involves the civic body, which had disconnected water and electricity supply to the colony earlier, but later restored them following protests by residents.
The society, located on a leasehold plot allotted by the civic body on a 999-year lease, consists of six buildings. Two of them (A and B), over 60 years old, are in poor condition, while buildings C and D, constructed around 30 years ago, are reportedly in good condition.
A structural audit by M/s Space Design declared all four buildings unsafe. However, some residents commissioned an independent report from M/s Karekar, which stated that the buildings are repairable. Due to conflicting reports, the BMC formed a Technical Advisory Committee.
The committee inspected the site, but the architect supporting the “repairable” report was absent during the visit. Based on the earlier report, the committee declared all buildings dangerous. Residents allege that the architect was not properly informed and that the decision was taken without adequate verification.
The matter was also challenged in the Bombay High Court, but the court refused to grant a stay. Meanwhile, residents submitted another report from the College of Engineering, Pune, a recognised institution, stating that buildings C and D are repairable. However, the civic body reportedly did not consider this report and issued eviction notices, with steps now underway for demolition.
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