BMC tells Mhada to act in Kothari Mansion collapse

Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has written to Mah-arashtra Housing and Area Development Auth-ority (Mhada) asking what appropriate action should be taken with regard to Kothari Mansion, the grade-2 heritage building, which got partially damaged in a fire on June 9.

A senior BMC official said that it is now up to the Mhada to either demolish or repair the building with the permission of the heritage committee. A portion of the building, where the decades-old ‘Light of Asia’ is located, collapsed due to the blaze. The BMC communication mentioned that the entire building, which falls in the ‘most dangerous’ category, might collapse at any point of time. The building was vacated by its occupants four years ago but was not demolished. “We have sent a letter to the Mhada asking them to take necessary action as soon as possible. It is up to the Mhada to decide whether the entire building should be demolished or repaired. It is a cessed building; if they are going to demolish it, they have to seek permission from the heritage committee,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner, ‘A’ Ward, BMC.

Mhada officials stated that it would take action soon after receiving the report on the building collapse. “We have not yet received the collapse report. However, we will take a decision as soon as we receive it,” said Arvind Joshi, executive engineer of Mhada’s Mumbai Building Repair and Reconstruction (MBRR) board.  

The letter also mentioned that that MBRR Board of Mhada ‘A’ ward has issued no-objection certificate for repairs to the subject building in favour of NOC holders, and it is the duty of NOC holders to take precautionary measures to safeguard the building.