India, April 13 -- Pravin Prabhakar Patil, 42, stands on his ancestral land in Virar West, fervently praying that the 50-year-old structure on it, categorised as C-1 or "dangerously dilapidated" a good 10 years ago, does not crash and kill someone.

Even after pursuing the Vasai-Virar City Municipal Corporation (VVCMC) for years, Patil has been unable to get a certificate to evacuate the occupants of Vithu Patil Building, named after his grandfather, in order to demolish the building. "With every strong wind, heavy rainfall and even rising summer temperatures over the past 10 years, I have held my breath and prayed that the structure does not collapse," said Patil, fearful that he could be held criminally liable for any mishap.

The struc...