Civic body forms expert panel to identify unsafe buildings after east Delhi tragedy

Six deaths wake up MCD

Civic body forms expert panel to identify unsafe buildings after east Delhi tragedy

Rescue work in progress after a three-storey building collapsed killing
six, at Brahmpuri in Delhi on Wednesday PIC/IMTIYAZ KHAN

But the question that MCD officials didn't have an answer for was why was the exercise was not carried out prior to the onset of Monsoons and if at all the exercise was carried out why were they unable to identify this particular structure?

A Shahdra zone official confirmed to MiD DAY that the building had not been declared unsafe.u00a0
The building was constructed more than twenty years ago and was in a dilapidated state. "The building didn't have beams or columns and had been constructed only with bricks. However, during routine exercises it had not been declared dangerous," said a senior official from Shahdra north zone.

The cracks were noticed by the family on Tuesday evening and apparently they wanted to move out on Wednesday and get it repaired. However, tragedy struck them on Tuesday night.

"There was a tiny gap between the walls of this building and the next. May be water seeped in and caused the collapse. We were not informed about the cracks by either the family or the neighbours," added the official.
MCD Commissioner, K S Mehra who visited the locality in the morning admitted that though the MCD carries out surveys every year to detect dangerous buildings, there are some shortcomings. "An expert panel of structural engineers will be set up to identify unsafe buildings," he said.

THE TRAGEDY

Six of a family, including three women, were killed when a three -storeyed building they were staying in collapsed inu00a0 Brahmapuri near Usmanpur in Shahdra zone.
The incident was reported atu00a0 4.25 am.

After the detection of such buildings, the MCD will "do the needful", which may include "repairing, retrofitting or reinforcing" the structures, Mehra said.u00a0 But the MCD has no power to act in regard to already constructed buildings in unauthorised colonies as they are protected under Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) Act, he added.

The MCD Standing Committee, which met during the day, witnessed high drama and blame game over the collapse. Chairman Yogender Chandolia blamed the Delhi government for the mishap. "There is a probability that Delhi Jal Board work is responsible for the incident," he said prompting strong protests from Opposition Congress members. MCD has also initiated a vigilance inquiry into the incident.

DIGGING DEEP

Receiving flak from various quarters, the MCD has decided to file criminal cases against the contractor and officers of the concerned agency who dug up the roads. Chairman of the Works Committee, Jagdish Mamgain said, that MTNL, the sewer department and power discoms dug up the newly prepared road and it remains in a shambles. "Except projects related to CWG, we will not allow digging up of roads. If anyone is found indulging in digging of roads, FIR will be registered and criminal proceedings would be initiated against contractor and the officer of the concerned agency," he said.

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