BMC ignored our complaints,say Altaf Manzil residents

There were three complaints filed against the illegal alteration and removal of beams/columns in the basement,illegal hoarding on the roof,and an illegal shed that abuts the building in November 2008,February 2009 and May 2012,the residents said.

According to Merchant and other residents,one wing of Altaf Manzil gave way after a downpour as a result of constant negligence on the part of the building owners,basement owner Iqbal Ibrahim,Sandeep Kumar Bafna,managing director of Fort Point Automotive who had a showroom on the ground floor of the building,and BMC officials,all named as accused in the FIR.

The residents alleged that Bafna,who purchased one of the two basements from Altaf Furniturewala’s three sons in 2004 and took the second basement on lease from Ibrahim,started illegal construction on the premises. The alleged removal of parts of the beams and walls weakened the foundation. Even after repeated notices and requests,no action was taken by him,they alleged. “I was shocked to see that the labourers had stripped off the beams and pillars. They told me they are working on the orders of Bafna,” Merchant alleged.

Also,a complaint against an illegal shed and an illegal hoarding went unnoticed by BMC,Merchant claimed. Merchant was able to recover his complaint letters to BMC from the rubble.

Altaf Furniturewala’s three sons — Irfan,Sharif and Mohammad — did not take interest in looking after the building’s maintenance,the residents alleged. “The beams should have undergone grenading and jacketing which was not done. We called for three expert reports and sent them to Ibrahim and Bafna but they refused to attend to it,” Merchant said.

“I don’t want any father to drag his son’s body or any son to drag his mother’s pieces from the rubble. That’s why I have raised this issue,” said Merchant.

The accused have been charged with criminal conspiracy,causing death by negligence,culpable homicide not amounting to murder and endangering life or personal health. BMC has also served a notice to the architect,builder and owner of Altaf Manzil asking for a detailed explanation over the collapse.

Fazi Abdul Lateef Abu Baker has been identified as the owner and builder,V P Parekh & Associates as the architect and N N Karanjawallah as the construction consultant. It was also clarified that Altaf Manzil was given an occupation certificate in 1985.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com