Collapse of under-construction four-storey building in Jafrabad area of East Delhi is yet another instance of callous and negligent approach of the official of the civic bodies as well as the Delhi Police.
Building mafia had been indulging in unauthorised constructions without any fear of law. Civic authorities and police did not pay heed to the several complaints by individuals and Residents Welfare Associations (RWAs) about the illegal constructions. Builders, ignoring building byelaws and safety measures, continue raising illegal structures and authorities failed to nail them.
The scenario in the Walled City and Trans-Yamuna areas is even worse. The region is full of decades-old edifices with weak foundations and building mafia raises multi-storey houses without proper foundations. At places, it has been found that people have constructed six floors. After Chandni Mahal building collapse in September 2011, it was decided that the municipal corporation will conduct a survey to find out precarious buildings in the region. However, the proposal has failed to materialise.
Trans-Yamuna area, which is a highly vulnerable sector due to its proximity to the river, has also witnessed mushrooming unauthorised constructions over the years. Seventy one people lost their lives in lalita Park incident in November 2010. After the incident, the then unified MCD, along with the National Institute of Disaster Management, conducted a large-scale survey in the Trans-Yamuna area to identify unsafe buildings.
After the collapse, action was taken against nearly 100 properties. No significant development has taken place after that.
Following MCD's objection, the Delhi High Court disbanded its demolition monitoring committee in 2008. It was also submitted before the court that action will be taken against senior officials of the Corporation if any illegal construction in any of the zones is found. However, no senior Municipal Corporation official has been booked till date despite the frequent reports of several illegal constructions.