July 17: Fear of temporary dwelling at the riot-affected Ramabai Colony, hassle of children's schooling and the anxiety of an endless strife of living in transit camps are some of the reasons why residents of a 126-year-old dilapidated building are resisting change.

The Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation has issued a warning to residents of Nazar Ali building at Bhendi Baazar that it could collapse any moment, and those who wish to continue living there would do so at their own risk.

Joint municipal commissioner BMC, Dattaji Desai, informed that the residents have been given the option to form a society to repair and reconstruct the building. The corporation is willing to loan 50 per cent of the cost of the repair, free of any interest to the society.

Desai added that they were also willing to carry out the repair work provided the residents vacate the building before the work starts.

Meanwhile, the 52 families residing in the building have preferred to stay put, since they are apprehensive about living in the strife-torn area of Ghatkopar, where they are being offered transit accommodation. They prefer to stay in the dilapidated building, the wooden ceilings of which have been propped up with wooden pillars. They have written to the corporation requesting them to accommodate them in the nearby primary schools which have been shut down.

The joint secretary of the building, Raziya Haroon Sheikh, said that the residents had consulted architects and contractors who said that the building could be repaired without the residents being shifted. She added that two years ago the corporation had passed a resolution for repairing the toilets with a budget of Rs 25 lakh. But the work was not carried out since the corporation wanted them to vacate the entire building then.

"The residents are willing to give in writing that the corporation should not be held responsible for any mishaps while the repair is being carried out," said Sheikh.

They also wanted the corporation to give them 50 per cent of the loan in advance, but Desai said that the money will be handed over to them after all the work is complete. "We will assess the work done through our engineers and then give the loan," he said.

The residents have now hired an architect, Hanif Kazi, and have decided to repair the building on their own. A final decision will be taken by the end of the week. They said that the total cost of repairing the building was estimated at Rs 1.36 crore, but the actual cost, they believe, should not exceed Rs 60,000.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.