Mumbai: The rubble lying on the ground where the Sai Siddhi building stood four months ago, is a stark reminder of havoc caused by illegal constructions in the city. The once hustling and bustling site in Ghatkopar is now an arid landscape of devastation and disruption. The scene at Hussaini building in Bhendi Bazaar was no different. Passers by cast a look at the deserted place and recall the moments of horror after the building collapsed.
The spate of incidents of building collapses in the city this year has once again brought up the issue of illegal constructions. Mumbai witnessed two major building collapses this year, both allegedly caused by illegal alterations. Seventeen people were killed in Sai Siddhi collapse, whereas the Hussaini collapse saw the death of 33 people.
The survivors of the Sai Siddhi collapse are hoping that they will be able to return to their original location soon. Not that they are finding life difficult at the alternate accommodation provided to them by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority (SRA). The state government, as a special case, has provided alternate accommodation to nine families from the Sai Siddhi building at Manav SRA scheme at Bhandup. The homes are on rent for a period of two years. Each flat has an area of around 269 square feet.
“We are blessed to get a good alternate accommodation. But after all, home is where your heart is. When our rent period is over, we hope that our building in Ghatkopar will be ready,” said Binita Ramchandani, one of the residents whose parents stayed in the Sai Siddhi building. The Sai Siddhi residents are in talks with local BJP corporator-builder Parag Shah for the reconstruction of the building.
Mr Shah confirmed that he was planning to take up reconstruction project through one of his charitable trusts. “I had a meeting with the civic chief Ajoy Mehta on this issue. We hope that BMC approves the project as we are neither utilising any commercial viability nor taking any FSI or TDR,” he told The Asian Age.
As far as Hussaini building collapse is concerned, the kin of the deceased said they are yet to receive any compensation from the authorities. Ammar Rizvi, the cousin of Jaffar Sayed Hussain, who was killed in the collapse along with his family, said, “No compensation has been given so far. We are also waiting for the reconstruction of the building under the Bhendi Bazaar redevelopment project.”
