Debris of fallen Moulivakkam building yet to be disposed

Chennai:
Nearly one and a half year after the unsafe tower in Moulivakkam was brought down by Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, the debris still lies there reminding of callousness on part of builder and authorities resulting in the death of 61 workers after the first tower collapsed on June 28, 2014.

Sources said that Prime Srishti was given a one-month deadline from May 5, 2018 to June 4, 2018 to remove the debris. But with work going on in slow pace, the debris has yet to be cleared.

The scars of June 28, 2014 still lies etched in the memory of the residents nearby and the dilapidated and damaged houses which bore the brunt after the 11-storey first tower by builder Prime Sristi collapsed is a testimony that nothing much has changed except filing of legal cases seeking CBI probe into the incident, compensation for plot owners and for those whose homes have been damaged.

Public Works Department sources told Express that Prime Srishti was given a one-month deadline from May 5, 2018 to June 4, 2018 to remove the debris. But with work going on slow pace, most of the debris still remains there.

The deadline was issued after there have been complaints to the district administration as the site became a den for anti-social and rowdy elements and poisonous insects. Sources indicated the deadline has been extended to July 4, 2018 as the builder M Balagurusamy sought extension to complete the work.

Hema, a resident of Raja Raja Nagar whose house is situated in the backyard of the site, hits out at the officials for delaying the process to clear the debris. “After the building was demolished, building owners found it difficult to get tenants. The nearby building had six flats and all were vacant. Now only tenants have occupied it,” says Hema.

But the fate of buyers and those whose homes were damaged have been ignored. While residents sought legal remedy to compensate the damages to buildings, it is learnt that the state government has yet to implement Justice R Reghupathi recommendations to set up committee to assess loss of buyers who bought flats in the two residential buildings in Moulivakkam.

The government is also silent on recommendation to sensitise Vigilance department by establishing a special unit to deal with hidden and underground nexus between officials and realtors.

Factfile;

Justice Regupathy Recommendations:

1.  Form a committee so that the loss resulted to individuals who booked the flats and the damages to neighbourhood could be assessed

2.  Fix compensation proportionate to the loss and damage for disbursal and the government to utilise the funds available under the “State Disaster Relief Fund’ for such purpose.

3.  Sensitise Vigilance department by establishing a special unit to deal with the hidden and underground nexus between officials and realtors has yet to be implemented by CMDA.

4.  Provide Occupancy Certificate to flat buyers which will enable persons booking the flat to safely occupy their portions.