Report ‘silent’ on unsafe structures

Of the three municipal corporations, the North corporation reports the most number of building collapses.

Saturday’s building collapse in Tulsi Nagar was the second such incident this month. Still, in its pre-monsoon survey report, submitted to the North corporation’s Standing Committee on June 11, the corporation had shown only one building as ‘dangerous’ in the Karol Bagh zone, which, it claimed, to have demolished. Tulsi Nagar falls in the Karol Bagh zone.

Although North corporation officials said the cause of Saturday’s cave-in was digging in an adjoining plot, they admitted that many buildings in the area were sensitive and dangerous, a fact not stated in the report. The opposition had raised the issue in the house and demanded a fresh survey.

In the lane where the incident took place, the houses around the collapsed building are also in a dilapidated condition. For the Karol Bagh zone, the corporation passed 463 demolition orders for unauthorised structures in 2014. Of these, in 137 cases, action was taken.
Civic officials say owners carry out construction at night or during weekends to avoid detection by officials.

“Even in Saturday’s incident, the owner of the plot adjacent to the building started digging on a holiday considering it a day off for the corporation,” North corporation spokesperson Yogendra Mann said.

In the Sadar Bazar building collapse on June 1 that left three dead and 12 injured, the corporation, acting swiftly, filed an FIR against the building owner and the contractor. That building too collapsed on a weekend (Sunday).

Of the three municipal corporations, the North corporation reports the most number of building collapses.

Naveed Iqbal

Naveed Iqbal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, and reports from Jammu and Kashmir. With a career spanning over 15 years in frontline journalism, Naveed provides authoritative reporting on the region’s transition, governance, and the socio-political implications of national policies. Expertise Regional Specialization: Based in the Srinagar and New Delhi bureaus, Naveed has spent over a decade documenting the unique challenges of Jammu and Kashmir. Her reporting is distinguished by deep contextual knowledge of the region's post-Article 370, statehood debates, and local electoral politics. Key Coverage Beats: Her extensive body of work covers: Politics & Governance: Tracking the National Conference (NC), PDP, and BJP dynamics, including in-depth coverage of J&K’s first Assembly sessions and Rajya Sabha polls following the reorganization of the state. Internal Security & Justice: Providing rigorous reporting on counter-insurgency operations, terror module investigations, and judicial developments involving political detainees and constitutional rights. Education & Minority Affairs: Highlighting systemic issues such as quota rows in J&K, public service commission reforms, and the challenges faced by minority communities. ... Read More

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