The Puducherry Planning Authority (PPA) has commenced the demolition of the multistorey residential building at Dhanaraj Udayar Street which had been declared unsafe after cracks appeared on one of the columns of the structure.
PPA Chairman K.S.P. Ramesh told The Hindu that cracks had started appearing on more columns in the structure.
Though the PPA had served a notice on the builder and gave time to pull down the structure the owner did not respond.
So, the PPA has started demolition of the third and fourth floor of the apartments in the interest of safety of residents of adjacent houses.
“We have also sought the services of a Chennai-based company having expertise in demolition of such structures. The company will be sending specialised machinery along with manpower shortly. The cost incurred in respect of demolition will be recovered from the builder as per Clause 22 (7) of the Puducherry Bylaws and Zoning Regulations, 2012 and Puducherry Town and Country Planning Act, 1969,” he said.
Meanwhile, PPA will be seeking technical advice from structural engineers of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai.
The authorities will go in for demolition of the entire structure based on their advice, he said.
