One more collapse but MCD doesn’t learn any lesson
The MCD seems to have learnt nothing from their past mistakes, as yet another under-construction building claimed two lives and injuring nine others, reports Neelam Pandey.
The MCD seems to have learnt nothing from their past mistakes, as yet another unauthorised under-construction building claimed two lives and injuring nine others. While the MCD had made tall claims of carrying out a survey to identify unauthorised constructions in the Capital, in reality, no such move has been initiated till date.
The MCD has suspended assistant engineer DS Mallick and dismissed junior engineer Kapil Garg for dereliction of their duties.
MCD Commissioner KS Mehra has also ordered a vigilance inquiry in the matter and the Chief Vigilance officer of MCD has been directed to enquire into all aspects of the incident and submit a report in a week’s time.
Commissioner Mehra has admitted that they are still collecting data of unauthorised constructions in the city and said they do not have any record on the number of unauthorised constructions that has come up since 2002.
“We are going to intensify the surveillance regarding unauthorised constructions and strict action will be initiated against officers who are found neglecting their duty. We have already suspended the assistant engineer for dereliction of his duties. The survey regarding unauthorised constructions will be completed in a few days time and we would start taking action on such properties,” Mehra said.
After the Brahmpuri building collapse incident on March 29, Mehra had ordered a survey of unauthorised constructions in the Capital and had directed all MCD officials to take action against all such unauthorised constructions. The corporation had, however, failed to keep a check on the DDA building, which collapsed on Tuesday.
On Monday, the MCD in the Standing Committee meeting had questioned the role of the nine court commissioners who were appointed by the High Court to keep a check on unauthorised constructions in the Capital. But MCD officials have also not been able to keep a check on unauthorised constructions that have been mushrooming in the Capital.
The MCD has now made it mandatory for owners to furnish a structural safety certificate when they carry out fresh constructions over old structures.