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| Unsafe buildings dot Grand Road in Puri |
PURI
Accidents
Sept. 8, 2013: Building collapse kills two women and two minors
Action taken Cops arrest owner of building, which is used as a lodge, on Sunday night. Lodge manager also arrested. Both gets bail on Monday evening
Steps municipality has in place to check unsafe buildings
Present condition of buildings and history of maintenance checked to ascertain if they are safe
lBuilding identification committee constituted. It consists of officials of municipality, roads and buildings division, district administration, police, district magistrate/ collector and Puri-Konark Development Authority
Is there a list of unsafe buildings with the municipality?
Twenty-seven buildings have been identified as unsafe since 1997. Of them, 13 are located on Grand Road. But not a single building has, so far, faced any action
When will the administration conduct survey to identify unsafe buildings?
First survey conducted in 1997 and again in 2007. Next survey to be undertaken shortly following direction from state housing and urban development department in wake of building collapse on September 8
What the administration says
“We have identified a number of unsafe buildings, but we are unable to demolish them as they have moved court. After court verdict comes, we will demolish them.”
Uddhav Charan Majhi, additional district magistrate
'We will advise house owners to take up repairs or demolish unsafe structures. If they don't adhere to our guidelines, there are clear-cut provisions in law for demolition. Section 133 of the Code of Criminal Procedure or conditional order for removal for nuisance can also be invoked.'
Arvind Padhee, revenue divisional commissioner (central)
Residents speak up
“More than 200 structures, including government buildings, market complexes and hotels, are unsafe. However, due to stiff resistance from local residents, the administration has not been able to demolish any building.”
Jagannath Bastia, president, Nagarika Adhikar Surakahaya Samiti
“If all unsafe buildings are not demolished immediately, it might result in a major disaster during the Nabakalebara festival in 2015 when nearly 50 lakh people are likely to congregate in Puri.”
Sankarshan Parida, resident of Sarvodaya Nagar behind Gundicha temple
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| BMC Mulapadia quarters, Bhubaneswar |
BHUBANESWAR
Accidents
Oct. 2011: Chunk of ceiling falls on table where a baby is being administered immunisation dose at municipal corporation hospital in Old Town. No one is hurt
July 2013: Chunk of ceiling falls inside kitchen of Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation staff quarters at Mulapadia. No one is hurt
Action taken
BMC repairs damaged ceiling of municipality hospital building. Issued notices to six families living in Mulapadia quarters to vacate. Only one left. Five families still stay there
Steps corporation has in place to check unsafe buildings
Municipal corporation takes help of engineers of public works department to assess structures
Is there a list of unsafe buildings with the corporation?
Municipal corporation has declared five buildings unsafe so far. They are:
BMC staff quarters at Mulapadia
Lingaraj Market Complex
Part of Kali Mandir Market in Unit-VI
Slum quarters in Kharavela Nagar
Old cholera ward behind municipal hospital
When will the administration conduct survey to identify unsafe buildings?
After Sept. 26
What the mayor says
“We have a list of five unsafe buildings. However, the city engineer had already asked his engineering team to conduct a fresh survey as soon as possible.”
Anantanarayan Jena, mayor
Residents speak up
“The municipality’s hospital building should be shifted to a new space as soon as possible.”
Lingaraj Sahu, resident of Old Bhubaneswar
“BMC should conduct fresh survey of all old and dilapidated buildings in the city. Old Town should be in focus as many buildings there are older than the new capital region.”
Subhakanta Swain, resident of Unit-VI
CUTTACK
Accidents
August 2013: Four members of a family of Gopalpur injured after a portion of an old single-storey building collapses during rains
July 2013: Concrete slab of a private building collapses near Howrah Motors. No report of injury
Sept. 15, 2012: Nursing student injured after a portion of ceiling falls at hostel of School of Nursing at SCB Medical College and Hospital
Action taken
No action taken so far in first two cases. Authorities of SCB Medical College and Hospital repaired hostel
Steps corporation has in place to check unsafe buildings?
Corporation will take help of public works department to check unsafe buildings
Is there a list of unsafe buildings with the corporation?
No list so far
When will the administration conduct survey to identify unsafe buildings?
Within a week
What the mayor says
“We will soon conduct a detailed survey to identify unsafe and vulnerable buildings. Committee has been formed. Subsequently, notices will be served on owners for demolition if they do not take up repairs.”
Soumendra Ghosh, mayor
Residents speak up
“There are old houses and buildings in almost all localities and people are always prone to disasters. We hope that the civic body soon takes action to demolish unsafe buildings.”
Jayadev Mohanty, resident of Buxi Bazaar
“Many buildings here are old and can easily fall in the ‘unsafe’ category. We have no idea whether the CMC has conducted any survey or taken any action.”
Rajkishore Swain, resident of Chandni Chowk
