Campa Cola residents hopeful on state chief's assurance before arrival of BMC

Ahead of the arrival of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials, the residents of Campa Cola Compound expressed hope upon the assurance of Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, who said that after allowing BMC to cut power, water and gas supply the next step will be taken in their favor.

In a bid to end 18 month long battle, the Campa Cola residents yesterday took a step of cooperation towards the system and agreed upon disconnecting power, water and gas supplies from their house.

The step was taken with a hope that if they go with the system instead of going against it they might get some positive result.

Vidya Srinivas, a resident of Campa Cola Compund said here on Monday, "We have agreed to let the BMC come in and cut off all our utilities because the CM has assured us that if we take one step forward then he will be able to find a legal solution, and do something for us which will work hopefully in our favor to some extent and we will be able to save 67000sq feet which is legal."

"He also said that he will take a legal opinion and work within the legal frame work. We do have 67000sq feet saved and we are hoping that he will save that for us," she added.

Meanwhile, another resident Sunanda Verma said, "There have already been few deaths in our compound, the old and the aged are mentally tired now and under stress and strain, we have to keep counseling them, people are talking about jumping off their houses and two ladies collapsed in the compound yesterday during this demolition drive. So looking into all this and on the assurance of the CM that he will if we cooperate with the BMC and follow the Supreme Court order he will help us and will do whatever is there for us within the law. On this assurance we have agreed to compromise with the BMC."

"BMC has assured us that they will not touch a single brick from the houses, they will not enter our houses and whatever work will be done, will be done out of our houses," she added.

The residents on June 22 submitted a mercy petition to the President to come up with solutions and political leaders from the BJP and the MNS sympathizing with the residents' demand.

The BMC had filed a police complaint against the flat owners for trying to prevent officials from implementing the Supreme Court order to raze the illegal building.

The BMC was supposed to begin the building's demolition on Friday, by disconnecting power, water and gas supplies to all illegal flats. The residents, however, blocked the attempts of the authorities to enter the compounds.