‘UPSC coaching centre was running library from basement illegally’: How institute where 3 aspirants died flouted norms

Ensuring adherence to building plans is among the core responsibilities of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

Mayor Shelly Oberoi acknowledged on Sunday that commercial activity in basements is in violation of building bye-laws. Directing the MCD commissioner to take immediate action, she also ordered an inquiry to identify MCD officials responsible for the tragedy.

“If any official is found guilty, the strongest possible action be taken against them… It is also our responsibility to ensure that such an incident does not recur in any part of Delhi,” Oberoi said.

Addressing the media at the scene on Saturday, Oberoi said, “We reached the coaching centre as soon as we got to know about the incident. Our sources are telling us that a drain or sewer had suddenly burst causing a flash-flood-like incident.”

Durgesh Pathak, the AAP’s MCD in-charge and Rajendra Nagar MLA, said, “Enough is enough, not just in Rajinder Nagar but in many other localities in Delhi, coaching institutes are using basements for commercial activities… Why were the kids studying in a basement? These are criminal activities and strict action should be taken against any officer who is responsible for this. If such activities go unnoticed, then the whole Delhi will be ruined.”

Asked if this was due to a lack of desilting, Pathak said, “The drains have been desilted…Just 20 days ago I personally met the Jal Board CEO to talk about desilting and to ask for super-sucker machines. But in areas where 10 machines were needed, they would send a single machine or send a machine for just two hours. Action also needs to be taken against coaching institutes running out of basements.”

Neither Oberoi nor Pathak answered questions about why action was not taken against the coaching centre earlier for using the basement to run a library.