The collapse of a five-storey building in West Delhi’s Vishnu Garden leaving five people dead and eight others injured, has once again exposed the authorities’ incompetence and the rampant business of illegal construction flourishing right under its nose. While the officials have said that an additional construction was made to the fifth floor by the owner of the building, the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) is trying to wash its hands of by passing the buck to Delhi Government run-Delhi Jal Board (DJB) for installing the sewer line that made the foundation of the building weak.
The incident has raised a serious question mark over the credibility of the corporation’s claim of keeping a check on illegal constructions. “It is a combination of incompetence and corruption by BJP-ruled SDMC. The blame game between AAP-run Delhi Government and BJP-ruled MCD will continue whereas the common man will continue to suffer,” said leader of Opposition SDMC, Farhad Suri.
Meanwhile, AAP MlA from Tilak Nagar Jarnail Singh blamed the SDMC for the building collapse. He said that the alleged violation of municipal laws was the reason behind the mishap. “The municipal corporation is responsible for this building collapse. Such incidents keep recurring because people violate rules. Municipal corporations must conduct a check on these violations,” he added.
However, SDMC Mayor Subhash Arya said that the building collapsed in Vishnu Garden due to accumulation of water in foundation of building due to water sewer line installed by the DJB by using JCB machines two months back in the area. “If DJB illegally installed a sewer line leading to weakening of the foundation of the building, then where was SDMC responsible for the collapse. Why didn’t they oppose it when installation startedIJ Why didn’t they file an FIR against DJBIJ” said Arya.
leader of Opposition in EDMC Varyam Kaur also criticised the municipal corporations for not enforcing the building by-law. “The incident has exposed corrupt practices by municipal corporation to fill their pocket by allowing illegal constructions putting people’s lives at risk,” she said. Arya also claimed that the building department of SDMC is taking strict actions against the unauthorised constructions regularly, but local AAP MlAs are creating hurdles to the officials in executing their duties resulting in encouragement of unauthorised construction and encroachments. Though the accumulation of water due to faulty sewer line work appears to be prima-facie reason for collapse of this building, the enquiry will be conducted about the role of SDMC Engineers for not taking prompt action, he added.
Commissioner of South Delhi Municipal Corporation Puneet Kumar Goel said, “This is an unfortunate incident. Based on preliminary findings, we have taken actions against the three officials. Executive Engineer AK Meena, Assistant Engineer AK Mittal and Junior Engineer of ward Arvind Kumar have been suspended till further order.”