The Hindu 20.11.2010
NHRC notices to Delhi Chief Secretary, MCD Chief
J. Balaji
|
Over building collapse in East Delhi that led to death of 70 |
“Explain actions to be taken against the erring officials responsible for illegal buildings”
Spell out steps for safety of people who are living in the 38 unsafe buildings
NEW DELHI: The National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to
the Delhi Chief Secretary and the Delhi Municipal Corporation
Commissioner, returnable in four weeks, over the collapse of a building
at Lalita Park in Laxmi Nagar on November 15 in which 70 people lost
their lives and many injured.
The NHRC, which suo motu took up the issue based on media reports,
wanted the two senior officials to explain the actions proposed to be
taken by them against the erring officials who are responsible for
construction of such illegal buildings; for the safety of the persons
who are living in the 38 unsafe buildings, as identified by the MCD; for
the medial treatment of the survivors including ex-gratia payment to be
paid to families of the deceased and the injured.
Media reports
Media reports on the collapse of the building, if true, raise a
serious issue of violation of human rights of the people who died in the
incident, it said.
The reports alleged that the MCD served notices on 38 buildings with
flooded basements in Laxmi Nagar area asking the residents to leave
within 24 hours even as a blame game within MCD was going on over the
issue of illegal constructions.
“No official is willing to comment on how illegal floors are allowed
to be constructed in the building which collapsed. The MCD has no
record. The earliest record of the building dates back to 1971 when it
was just a one-room establishment,” the report said.
On receipt of an appeal against rampant illegal construction in the
zone, Central Information Commissioner Sailesh Gandhi in his complaint
filed in November 2009 before the Anti-Corruption Branch pointed out
that four-storey buildings in the area had come up without even applying
for approval, and it appeared that there was a clear modus operandi to
ensure construction of illegal buildings without any hindrance, NHRC said quoting a media report.
