The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Fire brings building rule violations to the fore

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Wednesday, Sep 03, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Fire brings building rule violations to the fore

A.Srivathsan

CHENNAI: The difficulties, faced by the Fire and Rescue Services personnel during Monday’s fire-fighting operations on Ranganathan Street, T. Nagar, have turned the focus on building violations in the stretch.

Much of the damage could have been contained, had the buildings adhered to norms, particularly those to facilitate fire-fighting and rescue operations, according to Fire and Rescue Services officials.

According to a survey conducted last year, all multi-storeyed buildings on Ranganathan Street were found to have violated Floor Space Index (FSI), plot coverage, set-back and car parking norms.

Most of the special buildings on this street too have violated the building norms.

The survey, conducted in 2007 by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority and the Chennai Corporation, showed that Ranganathan Street had 14 multi-storeyed buildings and 13 special buildings.

Buildings having more than five floors or are 15 metres in height are classified as multi-storeyed buildings.

A multi-storeyed building requires a minimum of 22.96 feet as side open space around the built structure. This space is required to facilitate fire fighting and rescue operation.

No action has been so far taken on these buildings.

Ordinance

An ordinance passed by the State government this year has stopped demolition of the rule-violating buildings and recommends a status quo for a year.

Earlier, in 2007, when a similar ordinance and Act were passed, it was quashed by the Madras High Court. Subsequently, an appeal was filed in the Supreme Court and the case is pending.

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