Civic authorities deny compensation demand of Global Heights residents, say no provision for vehicle damage in case of fire
Civic authorities deny compensation demand of Global Heights residents, say no provision for vehicle damage in case of fireu00a0
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| Grappling in the dark: Charred remains of the vehiclesu00a0 in the parking lot. pic/jignesh mistry |
Global Heights residents have a reason to fume. The compensation hopes of the 24 flat owners, whose 37 vehicles were charred in a mid-night fire in February, have been extinguished. The residents were expecting monetary relief from MSEDCL officials, after holding them responsible for a fire that broke out in the parking area soon after the officials snapped electric supply in their society premises.
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However, Nitin Suryawanshi, assistant executive electricity inspector, who was appointed to carry out a report on the cause of fire, said, "Although the supply to the society was cut by MSEDCL (due to none payment of bill), it did not cause fire or short circuit as claimed by the residents."
This statement has dashed any compensation hopes of the residents. MLA from Kondhwa, Mhadev Babar, who had taken up their issue earlier and demanded compensation for residents said, "The officials from the Collector Office and PMC Commissioner Mahesh Zagade has said that no compensation can be granted in case of damage to vehicles in fire. Also, the report of MSEDCL is awaited."
MSEDCL Public Relation Officer of Pune Region, Chandrakant Garud, informed that they are waiting for a complete report from electric inspector analysing the cause of fire.
Bashir Khan, the chairman of the society said, "MSEDCL authorities visited society premises on March 1, clicked pictures and video taped the entire parking area which was damaged in the fire. Apart from the monetary loss, we are forced to shell out over a lakh of rupees for wiring which was completely destroyed during fire," he said.
Even three weeks after this incidence the electric supply to this building is not restored and the residents are still left to grapple in the dark.
