Dreams the Mall 2.0

Date: 14th April 2021

It is nearly 3 weeks since the fateful fire of Dreams The Mall. In the last weeks the enormity of the event would have sunk in to all. Here is a quick summary of discussion in the Groups and in the meetings.

What is the current status.

1. Fire started on 25th March 2021, around 11.30pm and was finally brought under control around 26th evening. Cooling operations continued for the next 48 hours. Where the fire started and how it spread is still not known, and the Fire Panchanama is awaited. About 12 people lost their lives. The police has registered an FIR, and a probe into the cause was ordered on the 26th March, 2021, to report in 15 days (11th April 2021, 15 days over).

2. The damage to Ground, Upper Ground, First Floor in and around the Main Atrium area is high with many shops completely gutted. There is no visible damage to the small atrium area. Some shops near the Temple area have also been affected. Also the tensile fabric roofing is in tatters.

3. Electricity has been disconnected. The BMC has order the sealing of the Mall, pending a structural audit.

4. Till now we have not received neither the police or the Fire panchanama.

5. There is talk of number of irregularities in granting permissions to the Sunrise Hospital, and temporary OC to the same has been revoked.

What are immediate and medium term issues

1. Many shop owners in the unburnt section need to remove their belongings.
2. Many in the burnt section still need to visit the shops, and assess the damage. Insurance surveyors need to visit and take photographs.
3. The entire areas has to be cleaned, and the debris removed.
4. Rains will start in June, and before then some protection has to be devised.
5. Shop owners want to recoup their losses, and are worried that without and united effort will be unable to restore the Mall.
6. Shop owners are also aware that permissions/NOC’s to the hospital was given illegally, without any compliances, and are hoping that someone will be held responsible and they can get some compensation for their loss.
7. Mall does not have electricity.
8. Mall does not have Water.
9. Mall does not have a FIRE NOC, and fire dept. has given a list of compliance requirements. The cost for implementing the same is yet to be ascertained.

What are developments

1. Creation of online petition to CM/PM highlighting our issues (only ~3800 signatures till date).You can sign it here.
2. Group had gone to meet at Muncipal Comm. Office and give a petition for revival/help.
3. Group had gone and met local MLA Korgaonkar & SanjayRaut and petition for revival/help given.
4. Group tried for appointment with CM. CM meeting delayed, asked to meet with special officer in S Ward, who promised to help.
5. The Administrator has appointed a Structural Auditor as required by the BMC. If the preliminary report allows, he will approach the BMC to unseal the mall, to allow inspection of shops and removal of material.

What further developments are expected

1. The police panchanama, and the details of the cause of the accident and who is to blame.
2. The Fire panchanama and the results of the BMC announced Fire probe.
3. The NCLT court order is expected. That will tell us what will be the action on the bigger entities, who have not paid CAM till date, and how effectively the orders can be executed. How much funds can be available in terms of CAM dues for revival of the mall.

Analysis of present situation

1. The problem now has become much bigger than earlier, when the mall itself was running, and it was only about insufficient funds as the big entities were not contributing towards CAM.
2. The fate of the mall is dependent on our unity as Shopholders. There are also other stakeholders like PMC, Wadwhan Holdings, Hospital, Banquet, HDIL etc. and their stand is likely to become clear only after the court order.
3. We have to try multiple things to revive the mall, and cannot depend on one approach. The things to do are many, and resources limited, so we have to be efficient and focused. These include

a. Getting political help for ex.gratia, property tax dues, water and electricity
b. Getting legal help for getting some compensation, and payment of outstanding dues towards revival of the mall.
c. Put efforts (legal or otherwise) to ensure a free and fair investigation into the causes.
d. Pushing the administrator to take quick and timely action towards reviving the mall.
e. Contributing time/money/resources towards revival of the mall.
f. Make a focused effort to highlight the shop owners plight in the media. There have been few feeble attempts at the individual level, but a concerted effort has been lacking.
g. Explore feasibility of other out of the box solutions like redevelopment. Remember there are complications like, other stakeholders, who have never cooperated till date, (requires support from 70% stakeholders). We don't have an umbrella organization yet who can take it up.

What has to be done