SC stays demolition of Campa Cola building till 31 May

Beleaguered residents of the haunted Campa Cola building in Mumbai's Worli area got some respite with the Supreme Court staying the order till 31 May, just 48 hours ahead of the planned demolition.

The Supreme Court also said it will consider allowing a new building to house residents of illegal flats, the legal representative for the residents said.

After a day of dramatic developments, a way out seemed to be emerging with the Attorney General GE Vahanvati suggesting the creation of a new building to house those who are losing their homes.

''The Attorney General said that there may be a solution to it. He said a new building can be built in the same compound,'' the lawyer said. He said that the colony had adequate Floor Space Index for the new building to be built. The matter will be discussed during the next hearing on 19 November, he said. ''We hope that something can be worked out and a permanent solution can be arrived at,'' he said.

Residents who have been spending sleepless nights standing at the gates of the building, protesting the demolition, heaves a sigh of relief after their pleas the prayers have been answered.

With the Supreme Court stopping the demolition at the 11th hour, the residents get a few more months till their hoses are demolished.

While the authorities claim the structure is illegal, the builders have not been involved in the case till now, say residents.

The RSS and the BJP units in Maharashtra have taken a pledge to stand by the residents till the end.

The union minister of state of the ministry of information technology and communications and the minister of state of the ministry of shipping visited the residential site today morning promising to take the issue to a higher level.