BMC razes around 500 bldgs near Tansa pipeline

Mumbai: Acting on the orders of the Bombay high court, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished around 480 residential and commercial structures lying within 10 metres of the water pipeline of Tansa at Bhattwadi in Ghatkopar that supplies water to the city.

The demolitions were part of the BMC’s action to comply with an earlier HC order directing the demolition of residential and commercial structures lying within 10 metres of the Tansa pipeline. The vacation bench of Justice A.S. Gadkari and Justice C.V. Bhadang this week, had dismissed a petition filed by one Maruti Salaskar, a resident of Khandoba Tekri in Bhattwadi at Ghatkopar, seeking direction for BMC not to demolish his house and residential premises of 392 other persons living in the same area. He had contended that these houses are not situated within 10 metres of the Tansa pipeline.

Salaskar’s house was partially demolished on Saturday and speaking to The Asian Age, he said, “Our houses are situated near the dead pipeline, which does not carry water at all and the length of this portion is about one km but still the BMC went on to demolish our houses.”

A visit to the site by Asian Age showed that the BMC has demolished structures that were erected on a non-functional line.

Case timeline

• May 2009: Bombay HC directs demolition of encroachment within 10 metres of Tansa water pipeline
• December 2009: First phase of demolition completed in Dadar, Mahim, Prabhadevi, Vikhroli and Bhandup
• 2017: The BMC has begun demolition of second phase in Ghatkopar, Mulund, Chembur, Andheri (East), Matunga, Dadar (East), Bandra (East) Santa Cruz (East) and Kurla and shifting eligible families to Mahul area