Mumbai: Following the collapse of an old and dilapidated building in Bhiwandi claiming 10 lives and injuring several others, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the municipal commissioner had been issued orders to use force to get people to vacate such buildings. He also directed the municipal commissioner to take legal action against the contractor.Speaking to the media in Mumbai, Fadnavis said even the Mankhurd building, that had collapsed on July 5, had been vacated and the structure it fell on had also been vacated, except for a few who had not moved out.“Once a building is declared C-1 (dangerous), we get people out, but some refuse to vacate. Life is important and since it is necessary to save lives, force will be used to get people out. In all C-1 buildings, directions have been issued to use force to get people out of the building. There are court orders that do not allow the use of force beyond a certain level, but even then we shall try to use force and get people out,” the CM said.Fadnavis added that the Bhiwandi building was in the C-1 category and orders had been issued to vacate it. “The municipal commissioner informed us that nearly 25 families had vacated the building. However, the contractor continued the repair works and thereafter the incident took place. The municipal commissioner has been directed to lodge a cognisable offence against the contractor and take strict action,” he added.Fadnavis expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives and said the state government would provide financial assistance to the next of kin of the deceased.
