Campa Cola: Prithviraj Chavan says state seeking view of legal experts

NAGPUR: Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today said the state government was seeking the view of legal experts to provide possible relief to residents of Campa Cola housing society in Mumbai who are facing eviction and demolition of illegal floors.

"The state government is examining the issue on how to go ahead and has already sought the opinion of State Advocate General. The government is seeking views of other legal experts on the possible relief against the backdrop of Supreme Court order," Chavan told reporters here.

The statement by the Chief Minister came even as Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) initiated action to disconnect power and water connections of the occupants of the Campa Cola society in suburban Worli.

The BMC, which had last week issued eviction notice to occupants of illegal floors, today moved to raze them amid protests from the residents who barricaded entry gates and stayed put.

The Supreme Court had set November 11 deadline to vacate 102 flats declared illegal.

Families living in the compound had pinned their hopes on Chavan stepping in and saving their homes by passing an ordinance to regularise their flats.

Chavan yesterday ruled out promulgating an ordinance and said the opinion of Advocate General Darius Khambata on the Campa Cola Society was negative.

The chief minister had asked Union Minister Milind Deora to seek the views of country's top legal officer, the Attorney General, against the backdrop of the apex court order.

Meanwhile, responding to a query on allegations that implementation of the project to build a statue of Maratha king Shivaji in the Arabian sea off Mumbai coast is hanging fire, the Chief Minister said the project got delayed on account of unavailability of environmental clearance.

On acquisition of the Indu Mills land in Mumbai for the memorial of Dr B R Ambedkar, Chavan said it is under process.