Civic body orders survey to identify weak buildings

New Delhi: The North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) on Thursday discontinued the contract of an engineer while suspending two others in connection with the collapse of a five-storey ‘weak’ building in Ashok Vihar in which seven people died. It also ordered house-to-house re-survey to identify dangerous buildings in its jurisdiction.

According to a senior official, while an executive engineer and an assistant engineer have been suspended, the contract of a junior engineer has been terminated. The building collapsed on Wednesday.

“Under the orders of the competent authority, Rajesh Sharma, the executive engineer (M)-II/Keshav Puram Zone, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect pending inquiry against him,” said the order issued by the NDMC’s vigilance department.

The order, which was issued on Wednesday, also said that he will be paid subsistence allowance during the suspension period as admissible under the rules.

“Under the orders of the competent authority, Abhay Jain, the assistant engineer (Civil) who is presently posted in the office of EE (M)-II Keshav Puram Zone, is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect pending inquiry against him,” said another order issued by the NDMC’s vigilance department.

Senior official said that the corporation has ordered house to house resurvey for identification of dangerous buildings by executive engineers (Maintenance) in their jurisdiction within seven days.

“It is also decided that the already identified dangerous buildings be given notices for actions as required under the provisions of DMC Act. The vacation notices to properties be issued and sealed if found dangerous so that incidences of house collapse are not repeated. Any laxity/misreporting in this regard shall be viewed very seriously and concerned official would be held personally responsible,” said the order issued by the engineer-in-chief.

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari, and mayor (North) Adesh Gupta visited the accident site at Sawan Park on Tuesday.

Mr Gupta ordered a detailed inquiry into the incident, saying strict action will be taken against the guilty. Police claimed that the building was inspected 20 days ago following complaints to the municipal body that it was in dangerous condition. However, NDMC claimed that the building was not declared “dangerous” and it had not received any complaint against it.