India: Apartments set to be demolished

A SALUBRIOUS apartment building that has caused an political scandal in India was yesterday ordered to be demolished because it violates coastal protection laws.

The 31-storey building in Mumbai was intended for war veterans and widows, but the apartments were bought at cut-rate prices by top politicians and military brass. Maharashtra state's chief minister resigned late last year because of the scandal.

Environment minister Jairam Ramesh said the building must be demolished within three months for violating coastal zoning laws. The building was planned as six stories originally, and its finished height violates bans on tall structures near the coast.

Adarsh Housing Society lawyer Satish Maneshinde said he would soon file an appeal challenging the demolition order.

The environment ministry's order said the building "violated the spirit of coastal regulations", and Ramesh said it was immaterial whether the owners were aware they needed to seek clearance under the zoning rules.

Maharashtra state chief minister Ashok Chavan resigned after revelations that his mother-in-law and other relatives had apartments in the building. He was the revenue minister when the building was approved and was in a position to procure the land and influence the building's development.