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  Metros   Mumbai  22 Jun 2019  Secure area around dilapidated Esplanade Mansion, Mhada told

Secure area around dilapidated Esplanade Mansion, Mhada told

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Jun 22, 2019, 7:04 am IST
Updated : Jun 22, 2019, 7:04 am IST

Advocate Sakhare said that the heritage committee was yet to take a final decision.

The dilapidated Esplanade Mansion.
 The dilapidated Esplanade Mansion.

Mumbai: The Bombay high court Friday directed Mhada to take necessary steps to secure the area around the dilapidated Esplanade Mansion in south Mumbai.

A division bench of Justices S.C. Dharm-adhikari and Gautam Patel noted that the upper portion and balconies of the building were yet to be covered and there was a fair chance that some part of the upper portion might collapse. The court noted, “The upper portion and balconies should also be covered. Pedestrian safety is of paramount importance. We do not want any untoward incident.”

The bench directed senior officials of the Mhada and BMC, and the concerned joint commissioner of Mumbai Police to convene a meeting on what safety measures needed to be undertaken around the building. The court directed that a report be submitted to it within two weeks on the issue.

 The bench was informed by BMC counsel Anil Sakhare that a few experts had told the civic body’s heritage committee that the building need not be demolished but could be repaired and restored.

Advocate Sakhare said that the heritage committee was yet to take a final decision. The court said that at this stage, it wasn’t accepting or rejecting the contention of either the MHADA or the BMC. "Presently, we are only concerned with the safety measures," it said.

Tags: bombay high court, pedestrian safety, mhada and bmc