New Delhi: After six persons were killed
in a house collapse in the city, the MCD today said it will
set up a panel of engineers to identify structurally unsafe
buildings and do the needful to address the situation.
The issue was raised by both Opposition Congress and
ruling BJP councillors at a meeting of the MCD Standing
Committee today, with its chairman Yogender Chandolia
describing the incident as "sad and unfortunate".
Six of a family, including three women, were killed
when a two-storeyed building they were staying in collapsed at
Brahmapuri area around 4.25 am. Neighbours said the structure
got weakened due to rains.
Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra, who visited the
mishap site in the morning, said 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 structurally unsafe buildings," he
said.
After the detection of such buildings, the MCD will
"do the needful", which may include "repairing, retrofitting
or reinforcing" the structures, Mehra said.
He, however, said 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.
Earlier, the meeting saw an uproar when Chandolia said
during his visit to the site, he found out that sewer work was
going on in the area and a lot of water went inside the
building due to that. "There was a probability that Delhi Jal
Board work was responsible for the incident," he said
prompting strong protests from Opposition Congress members.
Chandolia later said that if MCD was responsible, it
will accept that. He also sought to put the blame on BSES for
the electrocution deaths in the city.
Leader of Opposition J K Sharma said the MCD should
probe the incident and punish those responsible. Congress also
demanded that the MCD should pay Rs two lakh each to the
family of the victims. Several ruling party councillors
stressed on the need for regular surveys to detect dangerous
buildings, especially before monsoon.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, July 14, 2010, 17:46