The Indian Express              27.06.2013

PCMC issues notices to 76 ‘dangerous buildings’

Following incidents of building collapse in Mumbai, PCMC has issued notices to 76 "dangerous buildings."

Municipal Commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said the civic administration in a survey found 76 buildings were in bad shape and face danger of collapse if there is heavy rain. The buildings issued notices include those with weak foundation, those constructed haphazardly and those which are in floodline areas.

Civic officials zeroed in on 76 buildings after PCMC decided to survey the structures, part of the disaster management programme. The survey found 20 buildings each in divisional wards A, B and C and 16 in divisional ward D are in bad state, civic officials said.

The notices issued said the property owners would be held responsible in the event of any calamity.

Pardeshi said though Pimpri-Chinchwad does not have old buildings or wadas like in Mumbai, they are some structures which are in crumbling state. "The foundation of some of the buildings have weakened over the years and may get swept away even in flooding caused by nullah water," he said.

Civic officials said a residential society in Wakad has been issued notice after it found the building had tilted to one side.

The civic administration has also issued notice to St Paul's Church asking it to stop using its premises till repair work is over. Corporator Kiran Mote said PCMC has woken up only after the incidents in Mumbai.

"It is only after something happens around us that we wake up. This should actually be a continuous activity done before monsoon," he said, adding the administration should not stop merely by issuing notices.

"By issuing notices, PCMC is trying to show the world it has taken action in the matter and if anything happens it would not be responsible. PCMC should not wash its hands off the issue. It should ensure that property owners take corrective measures before there is any loss of life," he added.