The Hindu : Corpn. to review safety in buildings

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 01, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore

Corpn. to review safety in buildings

By K.V. Prasad

COIMBATORE, JAN. 31 . The Coimbatore Corporation will soon embark on review of safety standards in multi-storeyed buildings and commercial establishments, what with the recent fire mishap at Srirangam proving to be an eye opener on the risk to public from building rule violation.

To begin with, all the marriage halls in the city will come under scrutiny. The next phase will cover every other multi-storeyed complexes where the public congregate. The specifics of the entire programme are to be worked and orders issued to various arms of the civic body in due course.

However, the process is expected to begin soon, as the Srirangam tragedy has brought in its wake a demand across the State for bringing all such public assembly structures under a microscope.

Significantly, the Corporation's move also gives special focuses on unauthorised structures that do not have any safeguards. This is expected to provide a positive response to a long-pending demand for curbing the mushrooming of such structures, which virtually encroach spaces meant for not only parking but also to provide escape routes for the public during an emergency.

The Corporation Commissioner, D. Karthikeyan, told The Hindu that the Town Planning Officer, the Assistant Town Planning Officers and the Assistant Engineers (Planning) would be asked to carry out a survey to find whether all the structures in the city had been built as per the approved building plan.

And, if there were unauthorised structures, they should at least have adequate safety measures. (At present, the Corporation is only collecting a penalty for plan deviation/unauthorised structures).

"But, if these structures pose risk to the people, they will be demolished. The action will be initiated under the relevant rules of the Corporation, to ensure public safety."

Building rule violations in the city, that put the public to risk, has been a source of concern, according to consumer welfare organisations. They had even called upon the Government to show no mercy to commercial establishments that do not provide parking space and fire exits, and instead use the space for shops or to store goods.

When the Government attempted to introduce a scheme for regularisation of unauthorised structures by levying a one-time penalty, the organisations argued that inclusion of such structures in commercial establishments only sought to legitimise violations.

According to them, many buildings do not have adequate fire extinguishers, and have only a single access for entry and exit. In a letter to the Chief Minister, the secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause, K. Kathirmathiyon, has said the civic body had woken up to the task of scrutinising the buildings only after the Srirangam incident.

Alleging that many representations seeking action against violations had not evoked a positive response, the letter requested that the local body concerned should be held accountable for such constructions and the resultant loss of lives. At present, only a meagre amount was levied as penalty for violation.

The letter also suggested that the officials vested with the powers to approve building plans should constantly review the construction work to ensure there was no deviation from the approved plan. In case of violation, the unauthorised structure that was being built should be demolished immediately.

When contacted, Mr. Kathirmathiyon said, "In the absence of such an approach, the unauthorised structures continue to persist by paying a meagre penalty."

Citing the case of a multi-storeyed departmental store near Cross-Cut Road, he said with two layers of basement shopping area and only one way to serve as both exit and entrance, shopping complexes such as this one could prove to be a virtual death trap for the people.

"There are many such buildings that have converted basements meant for parking space into shops and have not provided any safety measure.

However, despite possessing powers and having valid cases to take action, the Corporation has not initiated any deterrent measure to remove these structures and ensure safety for the public. The Corporation's planned move should show no lenience in cases that pose risk to lives."

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