Campa Cola Residents pin hopes on Narendra Modi

Residents helpless despite having all requisite documents BMC refuses to save campa cola residents

 Mumbai, May 5, 2014: Having lost all hopes to save their homes from the BMC’s hammer, the residents of Campa Cola compound say that they hope for intervention by BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Mr. Narendra Modi.

The residents have turned their prayers to Mr. Modi even as the Supreme Court refused to extend the May 31 deadline to demolish the disputed structures. Today BMC refuses to help the Campa Cola compound resident and point blank said that they are not interested in the solution.

“It is very unfortunate that BMC has not worked out any solution, despite the Supreme Court suggestion, though we on our part have submitted all relevant documents to show that the homes can be saved,” said Ankit Shah Residents of Campa Cola Compound.

This goes to show that the Corporation seems to have a vested interest for not finding a solution to this long pending issue, said Yogesh Malhotra resident. The residents have knocked all possible doors in order to get justice.

“The Modi wave is having a ripple effect across the country with good governance being his main election plank. We believe that Mr. Modi is a person who can make a difference and look up to him with immense hope,” said Nandini Mehta resident.

The residents have so far been very corporative and complied with every request from government authorities, even so far as to submit documents establishing clear title to the property.

“We were very hopeful that BMC will listen to voice of more than 140 families whose future are at stake and should adopt a more pragmatic approach to find a solution. Its shows that BMC has its own interest towards demolition.

“We thank leaders of all political parties and BMC corporators who stood by us. But is just unfortunate that BMC does not see any reasoning behind our arguments and lacks basic concern towards human beings,” he said.  Brief Background:

The Campa Cola compound apartments were constructed on land leased to Pure Drinks Ltd in 1955, which was permitted by B.M.C in 1980 to develop it for residential purposes. Pure Drinks along with unscrupulous builders, Yusuf Patel, B.K. Gupta and P.S.B Construction Co erected seven buildings, two of which were high-rise buildings of 17 and 20 stories. During the construction period, the authorities issued notices to the

builders to stop work. The builders were fined and they paid the penalty and resumed work. After the construction was completed nobody prevented the buyers from occupying their apartments or the buildings from forming co-operative housing societies.

Unaware of these violations, the residents bought the apartments believing that they would get the occupation certificates in due course, as was the norm 25 years ago. Since 2005 the residents have been in litigation with B.M.C. trying to defend their homes and save their families from being thrown on the streets.