Have humane approach when forming policies on dilapidated bldgs

The city’s corporators have demanded strong action against the horrific building collapse and asked that policies concerning dilapidated buildings be given a more “humane approach”.  

They were describing the pitiable situation of the municipal residential quarters in the city. They said the state and civic policies are mere regulations which have no relation with the practical world. “Several proposals are stacked in piles of papers and files which are never looked at. The policy which cannot address people’s problems are of no use”, said Dilip Patel, BJP group leader in the BMC demanding white paper on dilapidated buildings in the city. He also demanded that 4 FSI should be given to such dilapidated buildings in the suburbs. He added that there are 84 important civic buildings which are in dangerous condition which include schools, hospitals, dispensaries, crematoriums, administrative offices, markets and residential quarters.

Yamini Jadhav, a corporator from Dockyard narrated her experience of witnessing the rescue work on Friday night and Saturday morning. Jadhav could not control her emotions while talking about what she witnessed. “I am a first time corporator and my heart wrenched when I saw the trampled and disfigured bodies of the residents who had requested me for help in repairing their building. Each time the fire brigade rescued someone, I was hoping to see the residents coming out alive from the rubble,” said Jadhav.

Jadhav has vowed that she will not spare any of the official who are responsible for this mishap. Jadhav have been following the issue of repairs work for more than a year.

“The building was declared dilapidated in 2000. My husband who was the corporator of the area has been taking up this issue since then. The building was repaired twice — 2007 and 2011. How are the contractors allowed to do such shoddy work and get away?” she said.

Yashodhar Phanse, leader of the house said that many other such buildings in the city could meet the same fate as the dilapidated buildings are neither redeveloped nor repaired.

Manoj Sansare, leader of independent corporators said, “Each time these mishaps happen we express our anger and grief. We offer condolences and forget the issue. But this time all the corporators should demand a permanent solution.”

While Congress leader, Asif Zakaria suggested that BMC should have its own structural audit department, Rais Shaikh demanded a judicial probe against the concerned officials as he said that they don’t have faith in civic body’s inquiry.