Building engineers of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) have advised residents of South-East Delhi— battling ground water seepage —to use Reinforced Cement Construction (RCC) and silicon based waterproofing for basement to strengthen weak buildings.
"Though private builders are using the technique in roof construction only but this technique should also be used while constructing the foundation of the building," said Surajit Jaradhara, director, Building Department of the DDA.
In Sukhdev Vihar and Kalkaji areas, the ground water seepage in buildings has left residents worried, compelling them to take precautionary measures. Moreover, the cracks on the basement wall in some buildings due to seepage have created a fear of building collapse.
Clarifying on the building laws of construction in Delhi, Jaradhara told The Pioneer that minimum depth of the basement in Delhi is 2.4 meters while there is no maximum depth limit defined so far in residential construction. "It is construction's fault overall. People or builders should invest money on the foundations rather than on the interiors," he said further.
All told, some residents have filed a case in National Green Tribunal (NGT) and are waiting for the hearing. Struggling with the current situation, residents of these areas are dewatering the basements by pumping. Surprisingly, as per the builders and engineers in DDA, the matter of ground water seepage is grave but none of the civic agencies are showing concern and taking the responsibility. "Despite writing several times to Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and addressing the matter to Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, no one is coming to us to see the situation. We are handling the situation on our own," said Ravinder, a lawyer and resident, Sukhdev Vihar.