Karimjee building on Kazi Sayed Street is 112 years old
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The Karimjee bldg owner claimed it was damaged in the 1944 Bombay Docks explosion, and was adding floors in the name of repairs.
Sixty-seven tenants residing in a 112-yearold building at Masjid Bunder have managed to prevent their landlord from adding floors to the structure under the guise of repairs.
In complaints to MHADA and BMC, the residents of Karimjee building on Kazi Sayed Street said there was no way the structure will be able to withstand the burden of additional floors, even as the owner, Imran Lokhandwalla, claimed the building was damaged in a ship explosion at the Victoria Docks in 1944, which killed 800 people. The two side wings of the building are groundplus-three storeys, while the centre wing is ground-plus-two floors, and the landlord wanted additional floors in the centre wing, the tenants said.
The tenants said that they were told by the landlord that a few floors will be added to the structure in November last year. Soon, construction began on the terrace, and those residing on the second floor said their ceiling sported holes as the workers dug through the terrace.
The tenants approached MHADA, which is responsible for the repairs of cess structures, and sought information under the RTI Act. "The documents clearly stated that Lokhandwalla had requested MHADA to get the water-proofing done on the terrace, following which a contractor was roped in at the cost of Rs 27 lakh. In the guise of water-proofing, Lokhandwalla ordered digging up of the terrace so that beams could be raised to construct more floors," a tenant said.
On December 6, a MHADA investigation following a complaint from the tenants revealed the construction was not related to water-proofing at all. The construction was stopped, and Lokhandwalla was asked to repair the damage caused to the roof.
The tenants further alleged that Lokhandwalla told MHADA that he had applied for permissions from BMC to add floors, and refused to repair the terrace. "We sought information from BMC under the RTI Act and found out that BMC had rejected the permission to add floors in June 2013 itself," the tenants said.
"Your request for reconstruction of six rooms on the third floor, 155-157 Kazi Sayed Street, contended as destroyed in the year 1944 in the blast, cannot be considered by this office on merits," stated a letter issued by executive engineer of the Building Proposal department.
The RTI queries totally exposed Lokhandwalla's plans, the tenants said, adding that he had sought permission to add another floor claiming that it had been damaged during the 1944 ship explosion.
The tragedy, known as the Bombay Docks Explosion, occurred on April 14, 1944 at the Victoria Dock and involved SS Fort Stikine, a freighter, which was loaded with cotton bales, gold and ammunition, including around 1,400 tons of explosives.
Debris from the ship damaged several buildings, sank the ships nearby, and killed 800 people.
A senior official from the Building Proposal department said, "Other than not believing that the building lost a floor in the explosion, we also rejected the request on the grounds that the structure was over a century old."
Armed with fresh set of documents, the residents approached MHADA again, which ensured Lokhandwalla and the contractor appointed by MHADA start water proofing to repair the terrace.
"We are pleased that we were able to expose the landlord's lies and stop him from adding floors," a tenant said, adding that there have been several instances in the area of the landlords adding floors to buildings after obtaining permission for repairs. Lokhandwalla remained unavailable for comment.
Sixty-seven tenants residing in a 112-yearold building at Masjid Bunder have managed to prevent their landlord from adding floors to the structure under the guise of repairs.
In complaints to MHADA and BMC, the residents of Karimjee building on Kazi Sayed Street said there was no way the structure will be able to withstand the burden of additional floors, even as the owner, Imran Lokhandwalla, claimed the building was damaged in a ship explosion at the Victoria Docks in 1944, which killed 800 people. The two side wings of the building are groundplus-three storeys, while the centre wing is ground-plus-two floors, and the landlord wanted additional floors in the centre wing, the tenants said.
The tenants said that they were told by the landlord that a few floors will be added to the structure in November last year. Soon, construction began on the terrace, and those residing on the second floor said their ceiling sported holes as the workers dug through the terrace.
The tenants approached MHADA, which is responsible for the repairs of cess structures, and sought information under the RTI Act. "The documents clearly stated that Lokhandwalla had requested MHADA to get the water-proofing done on the terrace, following which a contractor was roped in at the cost of Rs 27 lakh. In the guise of water-proofing, Lokhandwalla ordered digging up of the terrace so that beams could be raised to construct more floors," a tenant said.
On December 6, a MHADA investigation following a complaint from the tenants revealed the construction was not related to water-proofing at all. The construction was stopped, and Lokhandwalla was asked to repair the damage caused to the roof.
The tenants further alleged that Lokhandwalla told MHADA that he had applied for permissions from BMC to add floors, and refused to repair the terrace. "We sought information from BMC under the RTI Act and found out that BMC had rejected the permission to add floors in June 2013 itself," the tenants said.
"Your request for reconstruction of six rooms on the third floor, 155-157 Kazi Sayed Street, contended as destroyed in the year 1944 in the blast, cannot be considered by this office on merits," stated a letter issued by executive engineer of the Building Proposal department.
The RTI queries totally exposed Lokhandwalla's plans, the tenants said, adding that he had sought permission to add another floor claiming that it had been damaged during the 1944 ship explosion.
The tragedy, known as the Bombay Docks Explosion, occurred on April 14, 1944 at the Victoria Dock and involved SS Fort Stikine, a freighter, which was loaded with cotton bales, gold and ammunition, including around 1,400 tons of explosives.
Debris from the ship damaged several buildings, sank the ships nearby, and killed 800 people.
A senior official from the Building Proposal department said, "Other than not believing that the building lost a floor in the explosion, we also rejected the request on the grounds that the structure was over a century old."
Armed with fresh set of documents, the residents approached MHADA again, which ensured Lokhandwalla and the contractor appointed by MHADA start water proofing to repair the terrace.
"We are pleased that we were able to expose the landlord's lies and stop him from adding floors," a tenant said, adding that there have been several instances in the area of the landlords adding floors to buildings after obtaining permission for repairs. Lokhandwalla remained unavailable for comment.
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