Age and wanton repair led to Sayyed House collapse: report

Two months before the collapse,the owners of Sayyed House had refused to hand over the property to MHADA for repair works,

The report by the eight-member expert committee was submitted to the civic administration on Monday. The collapse in November last in the congested bylanes of 250 Street had raised queries on the fate of 16,000 dilapidated buildings in the city.

Amidst allegations and counter-allegations by the owners,the MHADA and the BMC ordered an investigation into the collapse. City Engineer,A S Kale,who headed the committee,confirming that the report has been submitted,said,“We are awaiting approval of the findings of the report and its acceptance by the BMC.”

The report has listed four causes: age of the building,use of the building for purposes other than which it was designed for,the repairs (which proved inadequate) in past,and vertical additions to the buildings not envisaged at the time of designing and which the structural framework could not withstand.

According to city survey records,Sayyed House was a ground-plus-four structure. But another floor was added to it. BMC officials had said this may have put extra load on it,leading to the crash.

The report suggested measures to “prevent similar incidents.” The committee suggested adding provisions to the MHADA and the Land Acquisition Act so that even if an owner opposes emergency repairs,the MHADA’s Mumbai Board of Repairs and Reconstruction can “summarily acquire the property and take necessary steps.”

Residents of Sayyed House as well as those of many nearby buildings said the ongoing pilling work had weakened the foundation of the building leading to its collapse.

Although structural engineers who visited the spot ruled it out,the committee took note of the matter. The report has thus suggested that before allowing re-development of any building,a structural stability survey of nearby buildings be carried out. The committee has asked the MHADA Board to examine structural stability through experts before giving the NOC for re-development of a building.

MHADA officials said the proposed amendments and structural audits will certainly help. “But there are a number of compelling social and economical reasons which force occupants to oppose repairs for which they have to move to transit camps,” an official said.