The Hindu : New Delhi News : Noisy scenes at MCD meet over building collapse issue

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Tuesday, Apr 01, 2008
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New Delhi

Noisy scenes at MCD meet over building collapse issue

Staff Reporter

One body recovered from rubble early on Monday morning; death toll up to nine
Fracas started when a member stated alleged involvement of a municipal councillor in issue

NEW DELHI: A special meeting of the MCD Standing Committee organised on Monday for the ceremonial “draw of lots” procedure to identify members to be expelled was adjourned midway due to loud protests by the Opposition members over the Brahmpuri building collapse. One body was recovered from the rubble early Monday morning while an injured man succumbed at the hospital taking the death toll to nine.

The fracas started when one of the members stated the alleged involvement of a municipal councillor in the building collapse and cited various newspaper clippings to substantiate his claims. It was also claimed that the building collapsed because a nine-inch-thick wall was being constructed over a wall that was just four inches in thickness.

While admitting that comprehensive data pertaining to the number of establishments that were carrying out unauthorised construction was as yet unavailable, Municipal Commissioner K. S. Mehra said there were several in-house departments that were responsible for the lapse and for ensuring such an accident did not take place in future. These departments included the Building Department and the Special Task Force both of which were asked to pull up their socks and intensify their crackdown on unauthorised construction.

The general consensus was that officials were highly active when it came to harassing perpetrators of small-time modifications in private dwellings but conveniently chose to turn a blind eye to unauthorised constructions abounding on a greater scale. Several councillors also alleged that the “beldars” were being thrust with an increasingly important role since the Junior Engineers and senior staff rarely decided to conduct field visits.

Later, addressing a press conference, Leader of the Opposition J. K. Sharma lamented the fact that “for the first time in memory the draw of lots will not take place on March 31”. Chairman Vijender Gupta, however, said the draw could take place at any convenient date (prior to May 3) so long as it provided for sufficient time for election of the new members.

Mr. Gupta said he would ask the Commissioner to chalk-out a programme by which “Structural Stability” certificates would be given to buildings after their proper evaluation by engineers.

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