According to corporation officials, a survey of 'dangerous' buildings is conducted before every monsoon
Even after a four-storeyed building collapsed on Sunday leaving five people injured, the East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) has categorised only two buildings as 'dangerous' in its survey report.
"The Laxmi Nagar building was sealed in 2011. However, the owners got the repair work done and got it reopened. We have launched a probe into the cause of the collapse," said a senior East Corporation official. "After the collapse, we have inspected a number of adjoining buildings for safety. An overall survey will also be conducted," he added.
According to corporation officials, a survey of 'dangerous' buildings is conducted before every monsoon. All the houses that are found dangerous or repairable are given a notice, failing which the buildings are sealed.
Built on the Yamuna floodplains, East Delhi falls under Seismic Zone 4, which is a high risk zone and has over 130 unauthorised colonies. The area has a history of building collapses.
However, according to the report of the 3,93,877 houses in East Delhi, 3,17,347 houses have been surveyed, of which only two have been declared 'dangerous' while two others have been tagged 'repairable.
'In south Delhi, out of 8,22,000 houses only one has been declared 'dangerous' by the corporation. And of the 5,77917 houses in North Delhi only 10 were registered as 'dangerous'.
Civic body officials of the North Corporation said that 96 houses were found in a 'repairable' condition of which repair work has to be initiated in 33 buildings.
Interestingly, some civic officials disagree with the findings of their own report. Speaking on condition of anonymity, a senior official said that there are over 200 buildings, including in parts of Walled City, Paharganj, Geeta Colony, and Lakshmi Nagar, among others which are 'unsafe' and in need of urgent repair.
In 2010, 67 people lost their lives in the Lalita Park building collapse. However, the building till that time was never booked as 'dangerous' or for 'illegal construction'.
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