Dwellers of Santacruz building being razed write letter to ministry

Unable to get relief from the court, residents of Sunita Building in Santacruz have written to the civil aviation ministry, requesting it to stop demolition of their six-storeyed building.

The BMC has already undertaken demolition of four of the building’s floors as it was found to pose a security hazard to the adjoining city airport.

In their letter dated September 22 and addressed to the director general of civil aviation, the civil aviation ministry, and the airport authority of India (AAI), the residents have said that despite some buildings posing risk to aircraft flying out from the city airport, no objection certificates were issued to them.

One of the residents claimed that there were taller buildings adjacent to Sunita Building but these had allegedly been spared from demolition.

Residents said in their letter that another building standing in front of Sunita Building had ground plus six floors and the location of that building was closer to runway 09 as compared to Sunita Building. Notwithstanding, civic authorities had ordered demolition of Sunita Building and had already started work.

“They have demolished two upper floors already and are on their way to demolish our four floors although these are not creating any hurdle in the flight path,” said a resident who did not wish to be named.

Residents said the authorities were not even taking proper precautions while carrying out demolition work. A former AAI official, Mallaya R. Channam, acting as the society members’ petitioner in the letter, said that Sunita Building is entitled for a height clearance of 22.12 m above sea level as a few other buildings in the vicinity too have received clearance for the same height.