July 9: The residents of buildings marked `dangerous' by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation have two reasons to not to vacate: 1) They believe, or rather would like to believe, that the survey, like most of BMC's jobs, is not very reliable. 2) The civic body is not providing them any alternative accommodation.

Officials at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation said that they would make alternative arrangements for schools housed in these building, but expressed helplessness in assisting the residents. So far, none of the schools have approached the corporation for help. Warning notices have been put up at these buildings, said an official. The notice says that those who continue to reside in these buildings will do so at their own risk and the corporation will not be responsible for their safety in any manner. Officials said the corporation does not have alternative accommodations for people who are willing to vacate their flats.

They added that none of the buildings declared `dangerous' by the corporation have collapsed so far, and perhaps that's why nobody has bothered to draw a contingency plan.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.