The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has established a two-member committee to investigate the legality of the Indira Niwas building, which recently collapsed, resulting in three deaths and two injuries. The committee, comprising Shirish Aradwad, Additional Commissioner Zone II, and Somnath Kekan, Assistant Director of Town Planning, has been tasked with submitting a detailed report within seven days, as directed by NMMC Commissioner Dr. Kailas Shinde.
The collapse of the 15-year-old building, which was not categorized as dilapidated or in the C1 (dangerous and dilapidated) category, has raised significant concerns. Despite being relatively new and not flagged for immediate demolition, the building’s sudden failure has left over 50 individuals homeless.
Dr. Shinde emphasized the importance of a comprehensive investigation into the building’s legal standing, construction process, and sale transactions. The committee’s investigation will include scrutinizing land registration, flat registration, and sales processes, as well as any previous notices issued by NMMC and related actions. They will also examine whether there were any court caveats against such notices and investigate the roles of officers involved during the building’s construction.
The committee has the option to seek assistance from the Indian Institute of Technology and obtain lab reports if necessary. In response to the incident, NMMC’s encroachment department has instructed ward officers to conduct surveys of all buildings, issue notices for structural audits, and vacate any structures deemed dangerous.
A senior NMMC official noted that, similar to the Shahbaz village collapse, there are numerous buildings within the city that may have been constructed and occupied without proper Commencement and Occupancy Certificates. The survey aims to identify such structures and ensure their safety through structural audits.
Additionally, a resident of Shahbaz village has alleged that developer Mahesh Khumbar has a history of illegal construction and has forcefully acquired plots for unauthorized developments. The resident claimed that there are at least five more illegal buildings in the area, and local officials have reportedly ignored these violations for years.
Sources By Agencies
