Campa Cola: BMC finally cuts power, water supply to illegal flats

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday disconnected the supply of basic utilities such as power, water and gas to the illegal flats in the Campa Cola compound.

After days of protest, the Campa Cola residents on Sunday agreed to allow BMC officials to enter the residential complex and disconnect utilities.

On Sunday, speaking to the media, one of the residents said they would allow the BMC to disconnect supply of basic utilities but they would not hand over the keys of the apartment to them, as they want to further explore all legal options.

The residents had earlier said they have filed an urgent petition with the President, requesting his intervention to stay the demolition of the illegal flats.

“We have written to the President and have humbly stated the ways in which the illegal flats can be regularised. We have also requested him to pardon our society as a lot of senior citizens staying here have nowhere else to go,” said Ankit Garg, a resident.

Asked to comment on the residents’ move to file a petition with the President, Deputy municipal commissioner Anand Waghralkar said BMC will continue with its work as they have received no intimation from the President’s office to halt the eviction process.

“We have filed a complaint with police and they will now help us perform our duty. We have received absolutely no orders from the President’s office to halt the eviction process. The residents are only trying to buy more time, which we will not allow any more,” he had said.

The Supreme Court had on 3 June dismissed the plea of the residents of the illegal flats against an earlier order asking them to vacate their apartments by 31 May.

Following the SC order, BMC had issued notices to the owners of the illegal units to hand over the keys to their flats so that demolition could be carried out. However, none of the owners has done so.

The BMC deadline for vacating the flats expired on 20 June and, as part of their plan to force the occupants to hand over the apartments, civic authorities have decided to cut off essential services like water and power supply to them.

(With additional inputs from PTI)