Mumbai: Election delays inspection of 'dangerous buildings'

The general election voting has come to an end in the city, but if affected Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's pre-monsoon preparation in many ways. A dangerous buildings' list preparation is one of them. Most of the BMC employees were on leave for election duty and resumed in the last week to start inspection of the buildings which was supposed to start by April 1.

Last year 619 building declared as dangerous. Every year, the civic body declares a 'dangerous building' list and sends notices to vacate them, as there are higher chances of collapsing of such buildings in heavy rain. The action is taken under encroachment department and all 24 wards prepare the list of buildings in their areas. The buildings come under three categories where C1 is the most dangerous category. The BMC further classifies buildings as C-2 and C-3. While C-2 buildings require major structural repairs, C-3 need minor repairs. Last year BMC published the list of 619 dangerous - C1 buildings in April only. But the BMC officials blame the election duties for the delay in the process. "The election duty was mandatory and most of the employees who were supposed to inspect the building in April resumed last week. We are expecting building list within 15 days," said an officer from the Removal of Encroachment Department. After that BMC will send notices to the buildings.

"The BMC declares this list every year but the names remain on the list only and the civic body never takes action against such dangerous structure," said Anil Galgali, an activist. He added, "Keep aside private buildings but BMC ignored the report of it's on Babu Genu market building. The building collapsed in 2013 and 61 people died. There are many such incidents in recent years."

Last year, BMC declared a list of 619 building in the dangerous - C1 category. Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Borivali had more dilapidated buildings. Out of 619 buildings BMC was supposed to demolish 71 vacant buildings, 41 cases were pending with Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) and the court had granted a stay on demolition of 174 buildings. Civic officials were expecting a lower number of this year.

FINDING FAULTS

• Every year BMC declares a ‘dangerous building’ list and sends notices to vacate them
• There are higher chances of collapsing of such buildings in heavy rain
• Last year, civic body declared a list of 619 building in the dangerous — C1 category