The BMC was brought under the scanner by the Bombay High Court for running a wholesale fish market in a perilous condition on the ground floor of a building located in South Mumbai. The legal body has alerted the municipality that they will be held accountable if lives are lost due to the structure’s instability.
The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Girish S Kulkarni has sought an affidavit that highlights the plan of action in regards to resettling the fish traders from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj fish market located near Crawford Market in South Mumbai. The court seeks an update on the building’s condition when its disastrous status was brought to light by a PIL filed by Abbas Shaikh, a fish merchant. He requests for the market to be temporarily shifted to the Airoli Naka market.
The upper floors of the building were demolished in 2016 leaving the ceiling of the ground floor in a treacherous state. The bench is taking into consideration the repercussions of the unfortunate caving in of the ceiling and cited a structural audit report by the BMC recommending the razing of the building.
Whilst the BMC claims that the situation isn’t as bad as represented, the bench has asked for an affidavit that states the absence of imminent risk which may result in casualties. However, if in the unfortunate circumstance that it may occur, the names of individual officers must be mentioned who will be held liable.
The court has ordered the BMC to file an affidavit in reply by July 2nd that offers a comprehensive insight into the reallocation plans. However, Senior Counsel Anil Sakhare representing BMC asked for an extension in the date to July 5th, which was then granted. The next hearing is scheduled for July 6th.
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