Mumbai: A day after Ghatkopar’s four-storied ‘Siddhi Saidarshan’ residential building collapsed on Tuesday killing 17 people, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis told the legislative assembly on Wednesday that investigations revealed that the beams and columns of the building had been tampered.
A discussion was held regarding the collapse of the building in the Assembly after the house was adjourned for three times. “The officials found prima facie that the beams and columns of the building were tampered with. The photographs taken by the officials show structure was damaged,” the CM said. The building was constructed in 1982 and an OC was given in 1983 for 14 flats. In 2009, the residential reservation for the building was converted into nursing home at the ground floor. “In July 2017, permission was sought to close down the nursing home,” Mr Fadnavis said.
NCP leader Ajit Pawar asked how permission to set up a beer bar was given in place of the nursing home. Leader of opposition Radhkrishna Vikhe Patil took a dig at the Shiv Sena, which is ruling the BMC.
Also, the culprit Sunil Shitap’s wife contested BMC polls and lost from Shiv Sena.
The CM said that an online system would be created in the Development Control Rules to make a provision for redevelopment of the old buildings. “A website by the BMC will have names of the old buildings and anyone can register complaint regarding this. The BMC has started discussion on the Development Plan and provision would be made in DC rules for the redevelopment of the old buildings,” he explained. He said that a structural audit should be done of all 30 years old buildings. “It would be responsibility of the residents and owner to do the audit,” the CM said.
Fadnavis even said that culpable homicide would be applicable in the accident. The victims families would get '2 lakh compensation and the government will bear cost of the medical treatment of the injured. He assured that the government will try to redevelop the building speedily.
Earlier, Shiv Sena MLA Sunil Prabhu had demanded to set up a repair board for suburbs too on the lines of the city. BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar said that the BMC officials should also be booked in such cases.
So far 17 people have died in the Ghatkopar building collapse incident. Officials suspect that many people are still trapped under the debris of the four-storey residential building that came crashing down on Tuesday morning.
