VADODARA, Dec 3: If there were no casualties when the walls of a tutorial caved in in Wadi early on Monday, the eight survivors only had providence to thank. But the next time a dilapidated building - conservative civic estimates put the figure at more than 200 - its inhabitants may not be as lucky, and the Vadodara Municipal Corporation's Nirbhayta Khatu (the department in charge of building safety) will have been caught napping yet again.A majority of the endangered buildings (that is, those that haven't been issued notices by the VMC) have cracks in brick lining and termite-infested woodwork. Most are in the walled city and all are inhabited.Though the law empowers the municipal commissioner to force the owner to repair a derelict building and even vacate a condemned one. But, by and large, the civic body is only a paper tiger in this respect.That in no way takes away from the seriousness of the situation. In 1998 alone, the 10 ward offices have issued nearly 100 notices promoted by prima facie evidence. An assistant additional engineer in charge of this, however, told Express Newsline that such steps would be far more effective if the entire city could be surveyed for ramshackle houses. ``Then not many will be able to question the notices'', he added.Added another AAE, ``If we go to issue notices on our own, tenants accuse us of being bribed by landlords who want to get them out.'' So they act only on applications.The fact that repairs have been completed in almost all the buildings that have been issued notices indicates how effective the civic chief's direct intervention would have been. All Municipal Commissioner G R Aloria said, however, was, ``I will initiate a survey (of dilapidated buildings) but my priority is to provide proper water supply to all''.Admitting that the situation was serious, he said, ``We can do little, because many of the buildings are tied up in litigation.'' The VMC doesn't even have a record of the number of condemned buildings.While the VMC evidently has its own priorities, what about those who actually endanger their lives by continuing to live or use such houses. Some stay on because the ancient rent is an absurd Rs 10 or Rs 25 per month. Others refuse to leave because they own the property, or have a stake to it.``We have been living here for the past 40 years; we pay Rs 20 a month. We know there's a risk to out lives, but where can we go?'' Chanda Sharma, a resident of Patodia Pole, questioned Express Newsline. ``Bhagwanko maarna hai to kahin bhi marange (If we have to die, we can die anywhere)''.A section of the first floor of a Chowkhandi building gave in some time ago; the balcony tilted and remains so till this day. Yet, a family of more than five people continue to live there. ``The house is more than 80 years old. The necessary repairs have been done, but still all of us cannot step into the balcony all together'', said Vasudev Patni. ``If I leave, I will lose stake to the jointly-owned property''.While 16-year-old Priyanka Upadhyay of Sultanpura Ranawas said she was not afraid of her ancient house collapsing, she does complain that the landlord does not repair the house regularly. Many residents of derelict buildings echoed her grouse.An owner of such a building, however, said, he could not afford extensive repairs. ``And if the tenant is allowed to fund the repairs, his stake on the property will increase''.Casual as they may be about their lives, Chief Fire Officer Mahendra Desai privately thanks providence that nothing major has happened of late. ``But a survey is essential'', he said.Independent councillior Dilip Kothari, however, opined that the Vadodara Municipal Corporation should bring down at least the unoccupied structures, while councillor and lawyer Rajendra Trivedi said structural engineers should check the condition of the worse-off buildings. But this may not be practical, he admitted.
