The Indian Express 23.09.2013
Most illegal but non-dilapidated buildings not in TMC 're-survey' list
Although Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) is now planning to survey 1,047 dilapidated buildings on its list to avoid mishaps such as the Mumbra building collapse of Saturday, a majority of illegal but non-dilapidated buildings across the city are not part of the list. The five-storey 'Banoo' building located in Jeevan Baagh area of Mumbra, which collapsed around 6.30 am Saturday, is one such illegal building that was not listed as a "highly dilapidated" or "dilapidated" building.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the collapse reached three Sunday, with the body of Moin Mustan Qureshi (35) being recovered from the debris.
Mumbra, with a population of over two lakh, is home to nearly 30,000 families. TMC Commissioner Aseem Gupta said: "Although we are attempting to minimise risk by first concentrating on the highly dilapidated and dilapidated structures, there is no way of knowing how dangerous or dilapidated an illegal structure is, as we do not have the foundation design of a majority of the structures in the city. Over 90 per cent of the buildings in the area are illegal. It is difficult to predict a collapse."
The civic administration has so far given eviction notices to 61 buildings that are highly dilapidated and dangerous to live in and evicted 51 families. As per civic data, 1,047 structures, which are dilapidated but not dangerous, have also been served notices.
Gupta said periodic checking of buildings, based on complaints by residents and locals, was being undertaken by the civic administration. "We are giving notices to residents of illegal buildings," he said.
Meanwhile, the Thane civic administration has registered a case of criminal negligence and conspiracy against the builder, owner and contractor of Banoo building.
With 28 families rendered homeless, the civic administration has decided to compensate every family with Rs 5,000 for their rehabilitation. Further, the TMC will soon implement a policy to compensate all families who are affected by a building collapse, in case of both illegal and legal structures.
This proposal will later be sent to the corporators to be turned into a compensation policy for all building collapse victims," said Gupta.
Meanwhile, the death toll in the collapse reached three Sunday, with the body of Moin Mustan Qureshi (35) being recovered from the debris.
Mumbra, with a population of over two lakh, is home to nearly 30,000 families. TMC Commissioner Aseem Gupta said: "Although we are attempting to minimise risk by first concentrating on the highly dilapidated and dilapidated structures, there is no way of knowing how dangerous or dilapidated an illegal structure is, as we do not have the foundation design of a majority of the structures in the city. Over 90 per cent of the buildings in the area are illegal. It is difficult to predict a collapse."
The civic administration has so far given eviction notices to 61 buildings that are highly dilapidated and dangerous to live in and evicted 51 families. As per civic data, 1,047 structures, which are dilapidated but not dangerous, have also been served notices.
Gupta said periodic checking of buildings, based on complaints by residents and locals, was being undertaken by the civic administration. "We are giving notices to residents of illegal buildings," he said.
Meanwhile, the Thane civic administration has registered a case of criminal negligence and conspiracy against the builder, owner and contractor of Banoo building.
With 28 families rendered homeless, the civic administration has decided to compensate every family with Rs 5,000 for their rehabilitation. Further, the TMC will soon implement a policy to compensate all families who are affected by a building collapse, in case of both illegal and legal structures.
This proposal will later be sent to the corporators to be turned into a compensation policy for all building collapse victims," said Gupta.
