Airport height norms: HC declines stay on building demolition

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to stay its previous order, in which it had directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Council (BMC) to demolish top three

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Tuesday refused to stay its previous order, in which it had directed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Council (BMC) to demolish top three floors of a residential building near Mumbai international airport over violation of building height norms.

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A division bench led by Justice V M Kanade dismissed an application filed by SAILEE Developers Pvt Ltd, the developer of the said six-storeyed building, seeking a stay on the August 10 order of the court.

The bench said the developer had “endangered, not just the lives of the fliers and airlines staff, but also that of the residents of the very building.” “The developer committed fraud by misrepresenting facts and procured the No Objection Certificate that enabled him to construct the building so close to the runway and also flouted the height norms, thus endangering the lives of many people. This matter is very serious and we want to make sure that no untoward incident occurs,” said the court.

On Thursday, the BMC told the bench that it had already demolished a portion of the terrace.