Mumbai:
Will Maharashtra's Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan save the home of those living in the illegal Campa Cola buildings in Worli?
Residents of 102 flats that face the demolitions certainly hope he will.
Today, few of them accompanied by politicians MP Anil Desai and Rahul Narvekar from Shiv Sena and Mangal Prabhat Lodha from BJP met Mr Chavan, who they say has promised to look into their case.
It's a last ditch effort by the 140 families to save their illegal high-rise homes from being demolished.
Speaking to reporters after meeting the Chief Minister with a group of residents, Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai said the CM should consider sparing their homes from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation or BMC's axe on humanitarian grounds. "They are middle class people. We have cited similar cases which popped up in neighbouring states Karnataka and elsewhere. Their governments have come to the rescue of the people affected. Similar kind of thing could be done by Maharashtra government. CM has said they are exploring possibilities available to them."
When asked why nobody came forward when homes of slum dwellers were demolished, he said that was not true.
Over 200 residents, dressed in black, holding placards demanding justice had gathered this morning to protest outside the chief minister's official residence at Malabar Hill. But they were stopped by the police.
Speaking to NDTV, Kamal Parikh who has lived in Campa Cola for 22 years said, "Even slum dwellers who have settled before the year 2000 are considered legal residents, eligible for government housing. My flat came up in 1985. Then why no sympathy for me? Why can't it be legalised?"
The Supreme Court has ordered the demolitions of 102 illegal flats in the society by November 11. Those living in these flats don't have an occupation certificate.
With all doors of appeal shut to them, the fate more or less sealed, residents hope that the CM will use his discretionary powers to save their homes.