A survey of decaying buildings in the city was ordered on monday by Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner BH Anil Kumar.
After inspecting the spot in Vivekananda Colony, Puttenahalli, JP Nagar 7th Phase, where the ground floor of a three-storey building had caved in on Sunday, Kumar directed all chief engineers to inspect their jurisdictions and submit a report on dilapidated buildings.
He warned of strict action against property owners who fail to act against such buildings. He said owners should furnish property details and stability reports to officials so that further action can be taken.
Police said five families were living on the first and second floors, and four shops were located on the ground floor.
Members of four families collected their belongings. But one occupant, Venkata Reddy, a private firm employee, didn’t shift his possessions. His belongings, including a refrigerator, were damaged in the demolition.
“Efforts are on to trace Gautam, the building owner. But we have not received any complaint,” police said.
“Old properties should be inspected. Engineers should issue directions to conduct necessary repairs or the owner should be asked to demolish the property,” he said.
The Vivekananda Colony building, meanwhile, was razed on Sunday night. Police confirmed the demolition work was over by Monday morning.
BMC has already issued a public notice seeking compulsory structural audit of private buildings to be done. Referring to section 355(B) of the Municipal Corporation Act, 1888, it said it was obligatory for owners and residents of buildings in existence for more than 30 years, to get their buildings inspected by qualified structural engineers. Thirty years from the date of issue of completion certificate by BMC or issue of permission to occupy the building.
Other cases of dilapidated building
The Vadodara Municipal Corporation (VMC) currently decided to ensure that structures in the city that are older than 30 years obtain a structural stability certificate from a qualified engineer. The step was being taken in the wake of the recent incidents of old buildings in the city collapsing. Two old residential buildings in the city have collapsed within a span of a week this month. On June 3, seven members of the Rana family living in Navidharti locality in Nagarwada had a narrow escape when the slab of first floor of their 50-year-old house came crashing down when they were asleep. They had sustained minor injuries.
If a door-to-door survey done by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) property tax department has anything to go by, the city has 20,016 buildings which are above 30 years old and the civic body’s public works and town planning departments that are responsible for structural stability examination of buildings have no idea.
Info- ET Realty