The Times of India              02.05.2013

SMC to pull down tilted building in Varachha

SURAT: Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) authorities have decided to pull down a dilapidated three-storey building on Varachha Road that had tilted on Tuesday triggering a major scare among the residents.

Senior officers in the SMC's Varachha zone said the residents of the dilapidated 30-year-old building named Ajanta Shopping have been asked to vacate their houses by Wednesday as the demolition will start on Thursday.

Sources said the 200-odd residents had vacated the building on Tuesday itself after it tilted. They had moved out without taking their belonging as they feared that the building could collapse any time. The building houses 24 flats and has 18 shops on the ground floor.

RV Gamit, executive engineer of Varachha zone told TOI, "We have sought the opinion of a couple of senior structural engineers and they are in favour of pulling down the building."

Asked about the alternative arrangement for the residents, Gamit said, "Most of the residents have managed on their own. In fact, we had offered them an alternative place. But, they have already shifted their belongings at the houses of their relatives and friends."

The Pioneer                 02.05.2013

BMC demolishes illegal portion of building

The anti encroachment squad of the BMC demolished a part of an under construction building in the presence of heavy police force on Wednesday which violated the approved plan near Prabhat petrol pump.

According to the Assistant Engineer of the BMC team Lalji Chouhan, the builders Rakesh Saraf and Anil Jain started the work 2-3 months back and completed the ceiling work of the ground floor rapidly to evade any demolition of the illegal construction.

But few days ago acting on the complaint regarding illegal construction, the action was taken. A notice was already issued to the builders regarding the construction but when the builders were not willing to mend their ways, action was taken against them.

Equipped with the tools of demolition, the squad razed the extra built area which was around 500 sqft. The concrete structure was drilled using JCB machine and the iron rods were broken with the help of gas cutters.

Aditya Joshi, Assistant Engineering of BMC told the builder had obtained building permission but has built additional portion illegally. After Rakesh Saraf and Anil Jain did not reply to the notice, getting orders from the higher officials the anti encroachment squad was dispatched to the spot for removing the illegal construction.

Explaining the reason of demolition Joshi told that the builder has violated the approved plan. The common passage according to the plan was built which is to be demolished.

Both the partners were not present at the time of the demolition. Other contractors who were working for the builder were present at the time of demolition but were not able to comment on the issue as they were not aware of construction in violation to the approved plan.