Kalpataru Towers residents unfazed by row over ownership

MUMBAI: Residents of the 30-plus-storey Kalpataru Towers in Kandivli do not seem overly concerned about the controversy surrounding the ownership of a one-acre area near their homes. The disputed area has a road and recreation and parking facilities for the residents.
A resident on the 19th floor of Kalpataru, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that since the developer had already paid for the land, the army's objections were meaningless."Considering the kind of land irregularities we hear about in the courts, a dispute over roughly one acre seems a bit hard to care about. I would have worried if the building itself was illegally constructed, but that does not seem to be the case,'' he told TOI.
A resident on the seventh floor said, "I am surprised there is a controversy as all the permissions seem to be in place. If the military had objections, why did it wait four years to voice them?" Another resident professed ignorance of the dispute, having purchased a flat recently.
Since its almost three years since the army withdrew its guards from the disputed area, a site visit revealed few signs of an army presence. Small, white markers on which 'defence land' is written were the only signs of the dispute. A pillar stands at the entrance of a road apparently constructed over part of a nullah (CTS No 135, part of the disputed area). Another pillar is in line with the boundary wall constructed by the developer.
A two-level underground parking lot has been built on CTS No 136, also part of the disputed land. Over the lot, is a one-storey clubhouse that has a sauna, party room and gym. Adjoining it is a reflection pool, two adult swimming pools and a children's pool. There is also a children's play area. It is not clear how many of these facilities fall in the disputed CTS No 136 and how many in the undisputed CTS No 134. Kalpataru Towers, with 450 flats, fall in the undisputed CTS No 134.