The Maharashtra government on Saturday decided to stall eviction of residents of old dilapidated buildings of Mumbai owing to the Ganesh festival, provided they gave a written undertaking that they were living at own risk.

The decision was announced by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh during a meeting with members of Parliament, legislators, corporators and residents of old buildings, held in Mumbai on Saturday.

Residents contended that with the festival ahead, it was difficult for them to move to transit camps.

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Deshmukh, however, clarified that residents will have to shift to transit camps after the festival, a statement issued in Mumbai by the Mumbai Regional Congress Commmittee has said.

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The meeting was attended by MRCC chief Gurudas Kamat, MPs Eknathrao Gaekwad, Milind Deora, MLAs Sayyad Ahmed, Bhai Jagtap, Annie Shekhar, Yousuf Abrahani, Jagannath Shetty and others, besides representatives of Mumbai Tenants Associations, Federation of Old Buildings and Tenants Associations etc.

The chief minister agreed to demands for waiving off transit fee of Rs 5,000 per family, and also decided to transfer the belongings of tenants to the transit camps free of cost.

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Deshmukh told the members that the government would ensure that the transit camps are provided all facilities, and assured that three independent architects will examine old buildings to decide whether they are dangerous to live.