The happenings at the Campa Cola compound in Worli, Mumbai depicts the sad saga of the Indian middle class and the poor who always have to bear the brunt of social injustices. I recently underwent a traumatic experience when wanting to buy a flat. I had to apply for a loan and was told by my lawyer and bank manager that the papers were not in order. The most important document, the no-objection certificate, was missing. To my surprise, the builder brushed my concerns aside and said he would find me an agent to get the loan; he had used such a strategy to get loans for other buyers. Later, I got to know that a politician was a partner in the building project. How this was possible was beyond me but it only showed that there are loopholes and the citizen has to bear the brunt in case of wrongdoing. I understand what the residents of the Worli complex must be facing.
Josephine Joseph,
Bangalore
It is well known that builders are involved in various irregularities in order to maximise their profits. I am sure that a survey across India will reveal many such Campa Cola compounds; such protests are bound to grow if illegal constructions are not caught in time and the guilty punished.
But is regularising really a solution? There is also some truth in the argument that these people/residents are not considered a potential vote bank. The fact that the Aadarsh building still stands is ironic.
Sweety Gupta,
New Delhi
