Based on a suggestion from a few members of the Godrej Baug Residents Welfare Association (GBRWA) at an informal meeting with the trustees of the Bombay Parsi Punchayet (BPP), the apex body has agreed to form a committee consisting of members from all associations and baugs to rationalize the levy of service charges across the colonies. The meeting on March 14, 2017 held in the Punchayet boardroom was convened to discuss the proposed sudden and steep increase in service charges by Rs 750 per month, per flat for non-Wadia housing colonies, effective February 1, 2017 (see "Some home truths,” Editorial Viewpoint, Parsiana, February 21, 2017).
This was communicated by the GBRWA to all their residents via a circular dated April 1, a copy of which is available with Parsiana. Presently, service charges are recovered in a skewed manner, with some baugs "paying a pittance and some baugs paying a higher amount,” informs the circular. At the meeting, the Association representatives were "explained that the trustees based their increase after compiling baug-wise data of cost.” The trustees pointed out that the BPP is incurring an average deficit of Rs 1,100 per flat and "therefore the increase was a compulsion.”
A meeting of the managing committee members of all the baugs and some activists was convened at Allbless Baug on Sunday, April 9 at 10.30 a.m. reportedly by Pervez Driver of S. B. Panthaky Baug and Phiroze Amroliwalla of Khan Estate to discuss the hike in service charges and decide on a course of action.
The 52 or so people present decided to approach the trustees before moving the courts in the matter. "They wanted to give the BPP one last chance to reconsider the charges,” stated former BPP chairman Dinshaw Mehta who attended the meet. Driver is considered to be close to Mehta. "There is sufficient ground to move the courts.” Mehta questioned the logic of charging a similar fee for all flats regardless of their size.
On the anvil is the formation of a federation of all the colonies so as to be able to present a united and collective face when dealing with the BPP. "Who wants to take panga (quarrel) (individually) with the trustees,” queried Mehta.