Probe under way, inquiry report by next week

Satinder Pal Singh

Zirakpur, April 18

Following the directions of Mohali Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, the local SDM had already started magisterial inquiry into the reasons behind the collapse of the under-construction four-storeyed building at Imperial Garden in Peer Muchalla here on April 12 and will submit its report by next week.

Paramjit Singh, SDM, Dera Bassi, who has been directed to look into the inquiry, had obtained building blueprints, documents and data files submitted by builders to the Municipal Council and would investigate in detail all aspects to pin down the exact reasons and circumstances behind the building collapse.

While the inquiry committee was to submit the report within a week’s time, sources said it might need another three-four days to provide a detailed report on the incident.

Paramjit Singh, while talking to The Tribune, said: “The inquiry is in progress and the final report would be submitted to the Deputy Commissioner, Mohali, after going through all documentation process besides other things”.

The SDM said samples taken earlier from the collapse site would determine, among other things, the quality of mixture, and whether it met design specifications, adding that this would take time.

He refused to divulge further details of the inquiry, citing reason that it would hamper investigation process.

Meanwhile, the sources said the police would assist in the criminal investigation and act if the expert findings indicate criminal behaviour.

“If anybody was found negligent and flouting any aspect of the Safety Act or its regulations‚ a recommendation to prosecute will be made against the person,” said the sources.

The committee would also lay down guidelines that need to be followed by builders, planners and others involved in construction of high-rise buildings in the city.

Gurpreet Kaur Sapra had already written to the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), Local Government, to constitute a committee comprising engineers from IIT (Roorkee) or any other place so that they could carry out a comprehensive survey of the area to access the structural stability and quality of all buildings around the collapse site.

The under-construction four-storeyed building at Imperial Garden in Peer Muchalla came crashing down on April 12. However no casualty was reported in the incident.

Panel to lay down guidelines

The committee will also lay down guidelines that need to be followed by builders, planners and others involved in construction of high-rise buildings in the city.