Despite court orders, the civic body is refusing to take action against the trust which has encroached on the hall, rending it a 'disastrous space' in case of a fire or stampede, leaving no space for exit
Despite the Kamala Mills blaze, the civic body still refuses to learn its lessons. In a series of allegations against the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) Commissioner and Shanmukhananda Hall Trustees, a city activist, Gopkumar Krishna Pillai alleges that the civic body is slyly trying to regularise the many irregularities in the hall.
The activist, who has been associated with various socio-cultural activities for decades, has pointed out that the irregularities which were notified by the civic body are now being regularised, leaving no space for an emergency exit. The hall is a prominent place for art lovers and now the trustees are trying to convert it into a commercial profit-making space.
Pillai procured a few documents, a copy of which is with the Afternoon DC, which also include a court order, wherein the court directed the civic body to take action on the matter as per law. In 2016, the civic body had notified the trustees to show cause notice as to why the said building should not be razed down.
Pillai states, “Based on a letter dated March 17, 2017, from the Municipal Commissioner's office, it could be seen that the internal note mentioned above was prepared due to some pressure that prevailed upon the MC. The said note, in terms, clearly state that the said structure which were a subject matter before the court were/are “illegal”. The same note towards the end suggests regularisation of the same and action which is highly objectionable and therefore illegal.”
He also mentions that when former additional Municipal commissioner, Pallavi Darade tried to look into the matter and remarked that the matter should be discussed before any such action, she was transferred within ten days. The hall is a temple for performing art lovers and performers. On Feb 28, 1990, a fire reduced the hall to shambles and it was renovated and restarted its operations in 1998. although the capacity of the hall during a function is about 2,763 people (including children) excluding the support staff. The activist claims that these encroachments could cause a grave danger to the general public in case any unfortunate eventuality like fire or even stampede occurs.
Pillai also alleges that the the hall does not comply with the fire safety norms, which effectively puts the lives of many people in danger. This is also an example of how many illegal changes are regularized with time without any notice to the general public. A notice from the BMC dated 3 May, 2017 mentions the illegalities in the hall.
The unauthorised construction of partition wall by means of plywood, closing of 6 ticket windows, unauthorized construction of shed by using steel trustees and fiber sheets, constructing of six rooms by using brick masonry and glass partitions with glass openings and many more. The notice mentions all such illegal constructions floorwise from the ground floor to third floor.
The letter signed by the designation officer, assistant engineer (Building and Factory) F/North ward states that after considering all the documents and rejection of the earlier proposal of regularisation of addition/ alteration by the building proposal department, the office has passed necessary speaking order dated 28/02/2017 and proposed for demolition action to remove the unauthorised constructions.
However the demolition was postponed after the architect has submitted revised regularisation proposal and detailed report for the same, which was will submitted for approval to the chief Engineer (DP) and MC. This is the same letter which came from the MC's office and suggested regularisation.
Pillai also points out that other than minor alterations, the other illegal works include the two ATMs of SBI and Indian Bank are illegally constructed and so is the seating area being used for display of commercial advertising boards by providing partition plywoods. Also the fifth floor which was approved of 'Sangeetha Sabha' is now being used as a medical centre for dialysis facilities. The medical facility however as per the civic body is being used to provide medical facilities to the needy and the poor for free and so will be considered.
He further added that there is a nexus between the civic officials and trustees of the hall who are trying to convert the irregularities by bribing officials. A RTI reply sought by the activist states that the licensed surveyor Kapil Khandekar, had proposed to regularise the same by imposing a penalty. He also said that such powers to regularise an illegal structure lie only with the commissioner.
Assistant Commissioner Keshav Ubale when asked about the irregularaties replied that the ward office never regularises any matter, it is the matter of Building Proposal.