We have been in our premises for over 144 years. The Building in which the premises are situated has been bought by a Builder / Developer around 15 years ago. He is proposing to redevelop the Building. While we are in agreement in principle with the redevelopment we seek proper plans and a registered agreement before surrendering our premises. The Developer has been after us for the last 6 months, to surrender our premises without entering into an agreement with us giving us our rightful area in a suitable location in the proposed building. Initially he tore off the roof of the Third Floor of our Building (which is in his possession ) to scare us and the other 2 major occupants of our Building - 2 residential Goan Christian Clubs occupying the 1st and 2nd floor of our Building. He thus scared the Clubs into signing their consent letters. He has now isolated us and is using all means to coerce us into signing our consent. On 14th April, 2009, he blocked access to our premises and wouldn't allow us to open our main door. He dumped rubbish outside our door and stationed goons who wouldn't allow us to remove the obstruction. I'm attaching a photograph clicked on a cell phone of the obstruction. Then on the 17th & 18th of April, 2009, he punctured holes in our ceiling and poured water into our premises ruining stock worth lakhs of rupees.
Not only this, he has deliberately knocked off the ceiling and walls of the third floor of our Building and kept it exposed to the vagaries of the weather knowing fully well that the Monsoons are fast approaching and the rain water will penetrate all the way to the Ground Floor. MHADA, Municipality and the Police are washing their hands off the affair saying there is very little they can do. It's really shocking how they can take an attitude like this where a Developer is threatening not only the property of the occupants on the lower floors but also possibly the lives of the occupants. While the Building is otherwise solid ( it has walls which are 2 feet thick ), if the floors are exposed directly to the onslaught of the Monsoon, there is every possibility of the Building collapsing.
This is ridiculous.Are we filing a civil and criminal lawsuit against these goons.It is high time this gets more media coverage.I ll see what I can do from here.
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