The Campa Cola Housing Scam

With the demolition of Worli-based Campa Cola housing society due to take place on November 11, Union minister of state for communication, IT and shipping Milind Deora has sought the direct intervention of Congress president Sonia Gandhi through a letter on Saturday.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan was earlier seen as a beacon of hope for the 140-odd families residing in the compound but his actions were not seeing speedy results.

Deora is said to have had several meetings with Chavan, repeatedly urging him to act in favour of the residents. While Deora declined to comment on the delay on the part of the CM, sources close to him were critical of his failures. According to sources, the Campa Cola issue is being perceived as Chavan’s latest example of slow moving decisions.

Last Friday, a delegation of the residents called on Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi and sought his intervention in the matter. Gandhi is said to have directed Chavan to look in to the same but no action was taken.

In the strongly-worded letter (copy of which dna has), Deora wrote to Sonia Gandhi and said, “On November 11, 140 law-abiding middle-class families will be homeless for no fault of theirs.” In the letter, he has referred to the affected residents as “victims of the builder/corporation (BMC) nexus.”

In the letter, the MP notes that “the demolition has been directed by a court order that has spared the real perpetrators of the crime viz the builder and the corporation, and virtually handed a death sentence to the residents. This is a classic case where the builders have colluded with the authorities to dupe home buyers.”

According to Deora, while the number of residents is small, the issue has attained “critical mass” status because of the strong public opinion and media campaigns against the proposed demolition. “The law has been applied, but justice (has been) denied,” he adds.

Deora has urged the state to move quicker and act before November 11. He has also sought legal opinion independently on the issue from Union minister and legal luminary Kapil Sibal.

Deora’s supporters, on condition of anonymity said, “Thousands of buildings in Mumbai have illegal floors, no occupation certificates and misuse refuge areas. But the BMC has not shown any inclination to act against them. The residents of Campa Cola compound feel that they are being singled out.”

Chavan’s advisers reportedly advised him against circumventing the apex court’s order by issuing an ordinance “for a small number of citizens.” They have warned the CM that the BMC could face charges of contempt if the demolition is not carried out. One of the suggestions allegedly made to him include large scale demolitions of illegal structures, specially in high-value buildings, be carried out along with the Campa action to avoid the impression that Campa Cola residents are being targeted.

Chavan did not respond to dna’s repeated calls in response to Deora’s letter to Sonia Gandhi.

I became aware of the above problem when I received an email from one of the old tenants titled "Save the homes of 140 Families. Help Prevent Injustice." Petition by

Save Campa Cola

I signed and forwarded the petition.

What is the solution to this problem?

We are seeing it everywhere, even in Kolkata. I would suggest that both the promoter and the BMC (in our case KMC) officials who gave the sanction should be penalised. If any politician had used his influence in getting the sanction, he too should be penalized. The money so collected should be distributed to the flat owners in proportion to the amount they had paid to buy the flats.

This would prevent government officials from giving illegal permission in future.