A conflict over the state of Rattan Kunj, a 124-year-old bungalow of the famous seven bungalows close to Versova-Andheri, led to its demolition. BMC gave Barars the order to evacuate. TAC resolves a conflict over the structural audit. Workers pulled down the bungalow part by part.
On Tuesday, Mumbai saw one of its historical parts, the 124-year-old villa at Versova, pulled down by authorities. It was said to be one of Versova’s only remaining structures of Saat Bangla, or the original Seven Bungalows.
The bungalow’s owners, the Barars, received a letter from BMC last month stating that the property was in “devastating condition” and that they needed to leave immediately to prevent accidents.
Shalloo Rahul Barar and her two boys resisted leaving the almost one-acre property facing the sea, despite the demands of one part of the family to move out and have it redeveloped by a builder.
On March 11, the Times of India published a story stating that Barar had refuted BMC’s claim that the house would collapse and accused them of plotting to get them out. “At a time when a developer was tapping the co-owners, Rattan Kunj received its first structural audit notice from the city government in 124 years. According to TOI’s report, it passed the tests with just minor repairs needed, all of which were fulfilled,” the woman had stated.
Other co-owners received a report saying the house was beyond repair and in ruins, despite a structural audit that Barar had authorized that a few repairs to the structure would make it liveable. Both of these studies were delivered by BMC to its technical advisory committee (TAC), which deems these kinds of buildings to be beyond repair and in disrepair. The bungalow has to be razed, the TAC decided.
After surveying the structure, a team from the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage reported that “although repairs are required to maintain the integrity of some of the architectural elements,” the building was structurally in sound condition. “An appropriate conservation plan may suffice to protect the building from additional damage.”
Labourers broke down the wooden panels on the veranda, as well as the large doors, windows, and light fixtures on Sunday. More labourers arrived on Tuesday, bringing large equipment to demolish the house.
(Image credits: https://www.wannabemaven.com/)