NHRC seeks reports from Delhi govt and MCD on building collapse

Taking suo moto congnisance of the four-storey building collapse in east Delhi, the National Human Rights Commission today sought reports from Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi in this regard.

Issuing notices to Delhi chief secretary and the MCD commissioner in this regard, the commission sought them to submit reports to it within four weeks on the incident.

The commission has also sought Delhi government and MCD to apprise it with the action they proposed to be taken against the "erring public officials who are responsible for construction of such illegal buildings" after the incident, the NHRC said in a statement.

"What action is proposed to be taken for the safety of the persons who are living in the 38 unsafe buildings, as identified by the MCD," the commision asked the chief secretary and commissioner.

The commission also directed the two officials to inform it about the action that has been proposed to be taken for the medial treatment of the survivors and also for the payment of ex-gratia payment to the next of the kin of the deceased and the injured.

"Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports on the collapse of a building at Lalita Park, Laxmi Nagar in East Delhi on November 15 that claimed more than 67 lives," the NHRC said in a statement.

The commission noted that "the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the people, who died in the incident," it added.

It observed that the MCD allegedly served notices to 38 buildings with flooded basements in Laxmi Nagar area asking the residents to leave within 24 hours "even as a blame game within the Corporation is going on over the issue of illegal constructions."

"No official is willing to comment on how illegal floors were allowed to be constructed in the building which collapsed. The MCD has no record. The earliest record of the building dates back to 1971 when it was just a one room establishment," the commission noted.

The commission also took notice of the media reports alleging that on receipt of an appeal against rampant illegal construction in the zone, the information commissioner Shailesh Gandhi had filed a complaint in November, 2009 before the Anti-Corruption Branch.

"Sharma in his complaint pointed out that four storey buildings in the area had come up without even applying for the approval, and it appeared that there is a clear modus operandi to ensure construction of illegal buildings without any hindrance," it noted.