Decks being cleared to bring down second Moulivakkam building

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Decks are being cleared to bring down the second unconstructed
11-storey building in Moulivakkam after the state government has given
its nod for its demolition.

The decision comes four months after Moulivakkam building collapse
that killed more than 60 people.

Official sources confirmed to Express that district administration is
in the process to demolish the building. This happened after a high
level meeting was held on Thursday.

“We are in the process of issuing show cause notice,” the official
said while refusing to divulge on whom it would be served.

When Express contacted Ratna, who is the president of Moulivakkam
Trust Height Flat Affected Buyers Association, she said that none of
the buyers are aware of any such development.

“We only came to know through electronic media that some such plan is
taking place. We are not aware of it,” she said.

Interestingly, the plight of buyers of the ill-fated multi-storeyed
buildings remain the same as it was since the collapse of the
11-storey building constructed by Prime Sristi Housing Private Limited
was brought down.

The builder had got the planning permission for building 86 dwelling
units in two buildings with gymnasium and swimming pool on June 6,
2013 after sending in an application on February 15, 2012.

“What wrong have we have done. We agreed to buy the building after
seeing the planning approval given by the regulatory body. There
should be a mechanism where buyers like us who invested our life
savings be compensated,” said Ratna, who had invested Rs 42 lakh in
two bedroom hall kitchen.

“We have invested our whole life-saving. But nobody is talking about
our plight,” she said.

Sources reveal that wok in the site started even prior to planning
permission. As per norms the enforcement wing of CMDA gets a copy of
the planning permission and they have to check the site whether it is
vacant or not.