The New Indian Express 18.11.2010
450 old city buildings in danger of collapse
According to officials, nearly 450 old buildings have been identified to be in a dilapidated condition and may come crashing down any moment. Incessant rains in the last few months has led to about half-a-dozen of them collapsing, claiming a few lives. But no action has been taken to demolish the structures. GHMC officials said another 100 to 125 buildings in city outskirts need immediate demolition as the engineer wing has certified these structures as weak.
The GHMC carried out a survey of dilapidated buildings in 2006-07 and identified 737 buildings as dangerous and unfit because of weak structural stability. They slapped notices on house owners under Section 456 of the HMC Act. Of them, over 125 owners undertook repairs and 244 were demolished in the last four years. However, some 450 could not be demolished. GHMC officials say disputes between owners and tenants or reluctance of owners to move out has hampered demolition work.
Most old buildings fall in the Old City areas like Begum Bazar, Sultan Bazar and Secunderabad. The figure is expected to go up after the GHMC carries out a fresh survey to identify dilapidated buildings.
