Mumbai civic body responsible for Ghatkopar building collapse, say Maharashtra legislators

The house was adjourned thrice after disruptions and uproar over the Ghatkopar collapse, which claimed 17 lives.

Maharashtra legislators on Wednesday held the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officers responsible for illegal structures and alterations to buildings in Mumbai.

Rescue operations in progress. (Satyabrata Tripathy/HT Photo)

Nationalist Congress Party MLA Jitendra Avhad alleged BMC officials from Ghatkopar gave permissions for illegal alterations to not just Siddhi Sai, the building that collapsed, but other structures in the area too.

BJP’s Colaba MLA Raj Purohit said illegal constructions were on in hundreds of buildings in his constituency.

Avhad alleged two officers from the legal and building proposal departments of ‘N’ ward were responsible for the collapse. “Apart from the place owned by Shitap, some other establishments have illegally on government land with the help of these officials,” Avhad said.

He said the government should take action against the assistant municipal commissioner of the ward and senior police inspector of the area.

The lower house witnessed an uproar over the building collapse.

The adjournment motion moved by opposition was admitted by Assembly speaker and later the debated upon immediately after the question hour.

BMC officials pay no heed to illegal constructions, despite repeated complaints, said Purohit. “This is evident in wards A, B, C and D in south Mumbai. The alterations have caused irreparable damage to these buildings. The officials are making crore of rupees, while the common man is scared to file a complaint,” he said.

Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu said not a single complaint was registered against illegal construction in the building which collapsed on Tuesday.