Till date, the MBMC has pulled down about 19 vacant industrial and residential buildings and disconnected unauthorised water connections of more than 30 structures, said council sources. However, imminent litigation and a shortage of `blasters' make it seem unlikely that the council will be able to achieve its target by even the second week of June, when the first showers are likely to drop. The presence of unauthorised structures in densely populated localities like RNP Park and Kasturi Park in Bhayander (E) has made it difficult for the MBMC to deploy blasters to raze buildings.

Also, many buildings are contemplating moving court for a status quo on demolitions. Kelkar also claimed that the MBMC isunder pressure from `influential persons' in Mira-Bhayander and Mumbai. ``However, this has not deterred us from razing buildings,'' he added.

However, builders whose buildings have been razed claimed that MBMC officials have demanded heavy sums as `protection money' from demolitions. ``If their demand, which usually runs into a lakh of rupees, is not met, the squad reaches the spot seconds after the meeting to carry out their job,'' claimed a builder.

Some builders, taking advantage of the death of a contract labour under a building on May 20, are contemplating making a representation to the Collector and Chief Officer to stop demolitions immediately. They claimed that the labourer died due to the negligence.