Senior civic officials told DNA that not more than 20 per cent of the societies in the city submit their structural audit reports to the BMC, risking the lives of their inhabitants.
The BMC has revealed that only 10.72 per cent of societies in C/Ward, where a building collapsed on Friday, have submitted their structural audit reports in the last two years,
Senior civic officials told DNA that not more than 20 per cent of the societies in the city submit their structural audit reports to the BMC, risking the lives of their inhabitants.
Assistant Municipal Commissioner of C/Ward, J Ghegadmal, said, "In the last two years, a total of 1,454 notices were served to make a structural audit. However, only 156 societies have submitted their structural audit reports to us.
By not auditing the structure of the old building, residents risk their own lives. Two years ago, section 353 B of MMC Act was amended where failure to audit invited strict action and prosecution."
The BMC sends notices for the audit to all buildings more than 30 years old under section 353 B of the Act. Following the notice, the buildings have to carry out repairs or if found in a dangerous condition, an evacuation notice is sent.
"BMC looks after the structural audit of only 1,200 private buildings. For 4,500 cessed buildings, MHADA does not carry out a proper audit but only a visual inspection as it lacks funds for a structural audit. Hence, the spurt in collapse incidents in MHADA buildings," a civic official said.
Anil Ankalgi Resident Executive Engineer of MHADA accepted that MHADA only carried out a structural survey before the monsoon season.
"Like in C/Ward, only 10 per cent of the societies have submitted their structural audit reports. the situation is more or less the same in the city. Of the total notices served, we re-send them to the buildings which are in a bad condition. However, the tenants are sentimental about the property and appoint their own auditor apart from the municipal auditor. It becomes difficult to ascertain which ones are actually dangerous," a senior BMC official said, requesting anonymity.
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