The Pioneer 30.11.2010
Vikas Marg 4-storey develops cracks, sealedStaff Reporter | New Delhi
Panic gripped the residents of east Delhi’s Laxmi Nagar area on Monday when cracks were detected by the people in a four-storey building situated on Vikas Marg. As people living in the neighbourhood noticed a big crack in the structure, they informed the police. Later, a team of disaster management and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) rushed to the spot. Authorities swung into action and the building was evacuated immediately and sealed. After sealing the property, it has been put on technical observation. A glass and paper test sheets have been fixed on the building to ascertain further tilt. According to a senior MCD official, an appropriate decision will be taken after analysis of the observation report.
Due to the crack in property no 53, the structure also tilted a bit, which alerted the people in the area. It is an illegally-constructed structure and is not a residential complex. But, several business activities were being carried out. It houses an English language coaching centre and an advertisement agency. As the result of tilt and damage in the property, a few adjoining buildings also had an effect. Balwant Singh Pawana, whose property was just behind the sealed building, said he had made a number of complaints against the unauthorised construction in the said property but no action was initiated.
“A few days ago, I again wrote to the MCD about the crack in the building due to which a crack has also appeared in my property. Today, as we noticed that the edifice tilted towards left, we informed the police,” he said.
MCD Deputy Commissioner Shahdara south zone said that he received a complaint in the forenoon that the building bearing no G-53 in Laxmi Nagar on Vikas Marg had developed cracks and became dangerous. “MCD teams immediately rushed to the spot and got the building vacated. A thorough survey of the entire building was carried out by the MCD team. There appeared to be no imminent danger to the building. However, the building has been kept under technical observation,” the MCD Deputy Commissioner said.
He added that glass and paper strips have been placed on the existing cracks which appeared to be old. “It is being monitored if there is any variation in width of the cracks. The final position with regard to stability of the building would be established in a few days on examination of the strips,” said the MCD official.
Notably, a few days ago, a multi-storey building was demolished in J Block of Shakurpur area after a big crack appeared in the building.
