Summons issued to BMC top brass in building collapse case: Rao

Mumbai Municipal Mazdoor Union leader Sharad Rao, who had filed a private complaint in connection with last year's building collapse at Dockyard Road in which 61 people were killed, today claimed that a local court has issued summons to BMC top brass.
Rao told reporters that a Bhoiwada magistrate court issued summons to Brihammumbai Municipal Corpoation (BMC) Commissioner Sitaram Kunte, Additional Municipal Commissioner Rajeev Jalota, the then Additional Municipal Commissioner Manisha Mhaiskar and former Additional Commissioner Mohan Adtani.
Summons were issued last week under the IPC section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and the officials have been asked to remain present before the court on January 12 next year, he claimed.

A five-storied dilapidated building that housed civic workers and owned by the BMC, had collapsed on September 27 last year killing 61 people. Thirty people had been rescued from the debris.
After the incident, Rao had filed a complaint in Bhoiwada court seeking criminal proceedings against the officers. He alleged that the BMC top brass was responsible for the collapse.
"The BMC officials were aware that the building was in a dilapidated condition but they paid no heed at the time. Their carelessness led to the loss of so many lives, which could have been averted," Rao alleged.

"There are still around 12,000 civic workers living in BMC-maintained buildings and many of which are in a bad condition. A sum is deducted from the salaries of these residents as 'cost of maintainance' every month, but there is no improvement in the structures. They are playing with the lives of people's lives," he said.

Meanwhile, the BMC issued a statement denying the charges levelled by Rao against the civic officials.
"The administration will seek appropriate legal remedy in the matter in due course of time before the competent court," the circular read.
"The administration is sensitive about the issue of old and dilapidated buildings and is concerned about the safety of people residing therein. It has taken all the steps necessary to evacuate people from dangerous and dilapidated buildings," it added.