Engineer, architect seek anticipatory bail

MUMBAI, August 6: The structural engineer and the architect of Govind Towers at Kherwadi, Bandra (East), which collapsed on Monday, moved...

MUMBAI, August 6: The structural engineer and the architect of Govind Towers at Kherwadi, Bandra (East), which collapsed on Monday, moved the Sessions Court for anticipatory bail today.

The anticipatory bail applications of R N Raikar, a structural engineer and chairperson and managing director of Structwel Designers and Consultants Limited, and architect Arun Ogale will be heard by Principal Sessions Judge A S Aguiar tomorrow. The Nirmal Nagar police have also been directed to file a report before the court.

Ogale and Raikar applied for anticipatory bail following an announcement by Chief Minister Manohar Joshi before both Houses of the state Legislature that persons connected with the building crash should be arrested.

In their applications, Raikar and Ogale submitted that in March 1975, the building’s plans were submitted to the Brihanmumbai Muncipal Corporation (BMC), which approved the proposal. A part-commencement certificate was issued in June 1975 up to 50 feet height. In July 1978, June 1979and August 1981 amended approvals were granted by the BMC and in October 1981 a commencement certificate was granted. A full occupancy certificate was given in 1984. The building’s owner, Jairam Chawla received a completion certificate in January 1986.In September 1995, Raikar received a copy of a letter from the deputy municipal commissioner, addressed to then MLA Madhukar Sarpotdar where it was mentioned that it was the owner’s responsibility to look after the building and its repairs.In his reply, Raikar said since the occupancy certificate was granted several years ago, the lack of maintenance , misuse of structure and unauthorised additions and alterations cannot be related to the obligations of the engineers.

After replying to the letter, Raikar also issued a notice to the owner and inspected the same. In his report, submitted in October 1995, Raikar had advised urgent and immediate repairs in view of ongoing additions and alterations in the internal layout, internal finishing and particularly in thesanitary plumbing lines. His report also stated that ongoing damage was caused to the building due to continuous seepage leading to structural corrosion.

The engineer said that in spite of his report, submitted three years ago, no repairs had been carried out. As a result, the building’s condition had deteriorated. In their applications, Raikar and Ogale said they are in no way responsible for the collapse and there has been nothing to suggest that the design or plans were defective, pointing out that the building collapsed due to the aforementioned reasons.