Maharashtra State Assembly legislator Vinod Tawde on Wednesday welcomed the Supreme Court's order to stay the demolition of illegal flats in South Mumbai's Campa Cola Housing Society till May 31, 2014.
Tawde, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, said: "I welcome the decision made by the Supreme Court. The government is trying to act like a dictator, and trying to save its own skin."
Minister of State for Agriculutre and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Tariq Anwar said innocent civilians were suffering because of the politician-builder nexus in Maharashtra and in other parts of the country, and called for the introduction and establishment of proper rules to prevent such nefarious activities.
"If there is a necessity to make a rule against such demolitions, then they must be made. Before constructuions are undertaken, all these things need to be taken care of. Innocent people are suffering because of all this," Anwar said.
D.P. Tripathi, another NCP leader, said: "There should be a balanced solution on the issue. People should not face inconvenience. The compound has been in existence for a long period. There should be an effort to resolve the issue through debate.
The views of the political class came shortly after the Supreme Court had on Wednesday stayed further demolition of illegal flats in the Campa Cola Compound in South Mumbai's posh Worli area, after taking notice of several media reports.
The apex court ordered officials of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) not to go ahead with the demolition till May 31, 2014.
Earlier, officials of the BMC had resumed demolition of illegal flats amid strong protests from hundreds of residents, who are trying hard to save their homes.
The BMC demolition squad broke the main gate of the Campa Cola compound and entered the area to carry out the eviction notice and demolition work amidst a strong police presence.
Residents were completely distraught, raging in anger and pleading for help, when the apex court's stay order came as much needed relief.
"This is a democratic country, there has to be a solution,what wrong have we done?," asked a resident.
With the pressure increasing on the state administration, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan sought legal help from the attorney general on whether an ordinance, or an executive order can save the homes.
"The state government was seeking the view of legal experts to provide possible relief to residents of Campa Cola housing society in Mumbai who are facing eviction and demolition of illegal floors," Chavan told media here yesterday.
Residents of the Campa Cola Society on Tuesday locked the gates of the compound to prevent BMC officials from beginning the process of demolishing over 90 illegal flats.
The residents have refused to move out of the compound even as the deadline given by the Supreme Court to vacate the flats has ended.
On October 1, the apex court had ordered the residents to vacate their houses by November 11.
The BMC had issued eviction notices to residents of illegal floors under Section 488 of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act last week, and warned them not to obstruct civic staff during the demolition drive.
Seven high-rises were constructed at the Campa Cola Compound between 1981 and 1989. The builders had permission for only six floors, but constructed several more.
The BMC decided to bring down 35 illegal floors in the seven high-rises in the compound after the Supreme Court refused to regularise them.
