57 unsafe constructions as MCD completes its dangerous buildings survey

According to a survey report released on Monday, 30,74,051 residences were examined across the local body’s 12 zones – the Rohini zone has 12 unsafe constructions, the West Zone six, while the Civil Line and Narela Zones have three each.

The MCD also discovered a total of 292 buildings that were in need of repair, with 159 structures detected in the Rohini Zone alone. The civic body had repaired 46 of the 292 structures as of July 6.

In the wake of the unprecedented rainfall in Delhi, the civic body has directed engineering staff to maintain a vigil on buildings and structures in their respective zones, according to a statement on Monday. The MCD’s engineering wing has also relocated residents near Rangmahal and the Tyre Market in Chandni Chowk. “This is due to a landslip at an ongoing construction site of Novalty Street Mall at SPM Marg. During the survey of the property, it was discovered that there is an apprehension of the building becoming an eminent danger for adjoining areas of the Novalty Street site,” said the MCD in a notice issued to Rangmahal and Tyre Market shopkeepers.

The landslide near Novelty Mall occurred when the Mall’s owners conducted excessive basement digging, putting seven buildings and approximately 40 shops in jeopardy, officials said.

However, following the collapse of numerous structures in monsoon, BJP media chief Praveen Shankar Kapoor has requested the MCD to conduct a new inspection of dangerous structures.

“The monsoon is in full force, and there have been incidents of house collapse in Seelampur, Mukundpur, Civil Lines, and even a government school wall collapsed in Srinivaspuri ward in the previous two days… Given the ferocity of the monsoons, it is all the more likely that several old and dangerous buildings will collapse,” Kapoor said in a statement, urging the MCD for another survey in areas where houses have collapsed during and immediately after the monsoon, such as Chandni Chowk, Sadar Bazaar, Lal Kuan, and Narela.