Ensure safety of old buildings, says court
A city court has asked the Delhi police and MCD to evolve a mechanism for ensuring safety of old buildings facing the risk of collapse due to unauthorised construction.
Special CBI judge A.K. Mendiratta gave the order while dismissing the bail plea of alleged contractor Jalaluddin, arrested for his criminal culpability in the September 2011 collapse of an old building in Chandni Mahal area, killing seven people and injuring 23 others.
The court also asked the commissioners of Delhi police and MCD to fix the onus on their officials for unauthorised construction or demolition of buildings in their areas, often resulting in fatal incidents.
“Irrespective of the investigation in the present case (of Chandni Mahal building collapse), it needs to be ensured by the MCD and police that in cases of unauthorised demolition and construction of old structures, some preventive action is immediately taken to ensure the safety of adjacent buildings to avoid loss of precious lives,” the court said.
“To ensure safety of buildings adjacent to those under unauthorised construction some modalities and guidelines need to be laid down and followed by the MCD commissioner in consultation with the city police commissioner, to ensure timely action where unauthorised demolition and construction of buildings is carried out,” the court added.
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