Building collapse raises safety concerns

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, February 12

The building which collapsed yesterday in the Arjun Nagar area has raised questions on the working of the building branch of the Municipal Corporation, Bathinda (MCB).

As per sources in the MCB’s building branch, it is learnt that the owner of the building didn’t get proper approval of the map. However, he had paid the change of land use (CLU) charges to the MCB.

He had submitted a residential map for approval, whereas commercial construction was going on. MCB officials claimed that they were unaware of it.

Municipal Commissioner Sanyam Aggarwal said the map of the building was approved, but the way in which the building was constructed was wrong.

Five persons were injured when the building collapsed. Masons and labourers were working on the first floor when it happened. Five of 13 workers were trapped inside.

This has raised safety concerns for residents in the city as many illegal buildings have come up.

Many commercial buildings have come up in residential areas.

Bathinda Tribune has repeatedly reported about illegal construction and violations of building by-laws going on under the patronage of politicians in the city. However, no action has been initiated against violators.

Civic body officials fail to keep track of the unauthorised constructions as well as the visible deviations from the approved plans. Once the building is constructed, officials slap a penalty and grant approval to the structure.

Ironically, many complaints have come up regarding the illegally buildings in the city, but the MCB has sidestepped most of these.

Apart from illegal buildings, encroachment of public land is also going on unabated.

Ramesh Bansal, a resident of Pukhraj colony, is running from pillar to post in the MCB office with his complaint that a resident has encroached park’s land in their locality and despite his repeated complainants, no action has been initiated.

Even residents of Chandsar Basti, headed by Congress councillor Raja Singh, had encroached on the shamlat land. But even after passing of five days, no action has been taken in this regard.

Map approval 

• As per sources in the MCB’s building branch, it is learnt that the owner of the building didn’t get proper approval of the map. However, he had paid the change of land use (CLU) charges to the MCB. 
• He had submitted a residential map for approval, whereas commercial construction was going on. MCB officials claimed that they were unaware of it.
• Municipal Commissioner Sanyam Aggarwal said the map of the building was approved, but the way in which the building was constructed was wrong.

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