MBMC wants structural audit by IIT-B for bldgs

Mumbai: Following an outcry from the residents of Green Wood (Bollywood) complex of Hatkesh area in Kashimira, the Mira-Bhayandar Municipal Corporation (MBMC) has decided to approach the  Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Bombay for a structural audit of the buildings to ascertain whether the damage caused to them was due to excavation carried out at an adjoining construction site by a developer.

Eighty-two families living in four buildings - Aman, Amitabh, Shahrukh and Madhuri - had to be evacuated following massive damage to the structural column with wide cracks appearing on the walls Tuesday night.

The buildings appeared slightly tilted. Residents blamed the civic administration for turning a blind eye towards complaints regarding digging that had led to the damage.

Attributing the damage to the buildings to rain and construction defects, coupled with negligence towards necessary corrections, the developer also claimed to have informed the authorities about the dilapidated state of these buildings well in advance. Municipal commissioner Balaji Khatgaonkar said, “While a fresh safety audit by MBMC-empanelled auditors to check the stability of the buildings has been conducted, we have also sought the expertise of the IIT to ascertain the actual reason behind the damage.”

A probe is also underway to identify the civic officials who were actually responsible for ignoring complaints of such a serious threat to the structures.