C Shivakumar
Chennai:
Nearly six months after the worst disaster that shook the construction
sector with the collapse of 11-storey under construction building in
Moulivakkam, officials as well as the developers are yet to recover
from the shock.
The construction sector, reeling due to the rise in cement prices as
well as scarcity of sand, could hardly recover from the building
collapse that killed 61 people as planning permissions for upcoming
projects was put on cold storage.
It is learnt that hardly six to seven planning permissions were given
that too from October onwards after a three months break (following
Moulivakkam incident) as compared to 45 planning permissions being
issued between July to December last year.
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to regain the waning
confidence among the public on the safety of multi-storeyed buildings
went on a drive to audit 700 multi-storeyed buildings and even
finished the first phase of survey of more than 300 buildings.
Although the move won the applause but then activists started
questioning the role of CMDA’s enforcement wing. It is alleged that
construction started even before the planning permission was given. A
few petitions were also filed in the Supreme Court as well as High
Court questioning the approval given to the building.
Interestingly, a report submitted before the High Court maintained
that the foundation designed and executed by the builders was
inadequate for stable construction of a 12-storeyed building. It also
stated that the building collapsed due to a fault in the structural
design and poor execution.
Interestingly, the issue resulted in various institutions and
professional bodies of architecture, planners as well as social
activists demand the relevance of CMDA as an enforcement body. M G
Devasahayam, who is a member of monitoring committee, stressed on the
need to streamline the enforcement agency. “Had the enforcement wing
of CMDA inspected it, then the incident could have been stopped,” he
said.
He said CMDA is a planning body and not an enforcement agency and it
should concentrate on planning. The enforcement powers should be
transferred to local bodies.
Association of Professional Town Planners questioned the failure to
register qualified professionals to practice in their competent field
in the construction industry in consonance with national building code
either in the development regulations of Chennai Metropolitan
Development Authority or in the development control regulations
followed in all corporations, municipalities and town panchayats.
While the state government is looking into all these aspects, it is
yet unclear whether it will come into force or not.
Meanwhile, work is on full swing to bring down the second building in
the site which is being termed unsafe. However, the plight of those
who brought the plots, most of them pensioners as well as belonging to
middle class, have gone unnoticed. Interestingly, Madras High Court
order of 2006 has even asked the monitoring committee to identify
professional builders of illegal multi-storeyed and special buildings
for imposition of heavy penalties which could be used to compensate
the unwary purchasers. A monitoring committee sub-committee
recommendation in this regard was submitted but it never saw the light
of the day.
The collapse of Moulivakkam building may be the biggest tragedy in the
construction sector but has it awakened the government from the
slumber to initiate action to streamline enforcement wing besides fill
up the huge backlog of vacant posts in CMDA is yet to be seen.
Chennai:
Nearly six months after the worst disaster that shook the construction
sector with the collapse of 11-storey under construction building in
Moulivakkam, officials as well as the developers are yet to recover
from the shock.
The construction sector, reeling due to the rise in cement prices as
well as scarcity of sand, could hardly recover from the building
collapse that killed 61 people as planning permissions for upcoming
projects was put on cold storage.
It is learnt that hardly six to seven planning permissions were given
that too from October onwards after a three months break (following
Moulivakkam incident) as compared to 45 planning permissions being
issued between July to December last year.
Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority to regain the waning
confidence among the public on the safety of multi-storeyed buildings
went on a drive to audit 700 multi-storeyed buildings and even
finished the first phase of survey of more than 300 buildings.
Although the move won the applause but then activists started
questioning the role of CMDA’s enforcement wing. It is alleged that
construction started even before the planning permission was given. A
few petitions were also filed in the Supreme Court as well as High
Court questioning the approval given to the building.
Interestingly, a report submitted before the High Court maintained
that the foundation designed and executed by the builders was
inadequate for stable construction of a 12-storeyed building. It also
stated that the building collapsed due to a fault in the structural
design and poor execution.
Interestingly, the issue resulted in various institutions and
professional bodies of architecture, planners as well as social
activists demand the relevance of CMDA as an enforcement body. M G
Devasahayam, who is a member of monitoring committee, stressed on the
need to streamline the enforcement agency. “Had the enforcement wing
of CMDA inspected it, then the incident could have been stopped,” he
said.
He said CMDA is a planning body and not an enforcement agency and it
should concentrate on planning. The enforcement powers should be
transferred to local bodies.
Association of Professional Town Planners questioned the failure to
register qualified professionals to practice in their competent field
in the construction industry in consonance with national building code
either in the development regulations of Chennai Metropolitan
Development Authority or in the development control regulations
followed in all corporations, municipalities and town panchayats.
While the state government is looking into all these aspects, it is
yet unclear whether it will come into force or not.
Meanwhile, work is on full swing to bring down the second building in
the site which is being termed unsafe. However, the plight of those
who brought the plots, most of them pensioners as well as belonging to
middle class, have gone unnoticed. Interestingly, Madras High Court
order of 2006 has even asked the monitoring committee to identify
professional builders of illegal multi-storeyed and special buildings
for imposition of heavy penalties which could be used to compensate
the unwary purchasers. A monitoring committee sub-committee
recommendation in this regard was submitted but it never saw the light
of the day.
The collapse of Moulivakkam building may be the biggest tragedy in the
construction sector but has it awakened the government from the
slumber to initiate action to streamline enforcement wing besides fill
up the huge backlog of vacant posts in CMDA is yet to be seen.
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