Residents claim that the accident could have been avoided but for the negligence of BWSSB and Legacy Global projects.
Lal Mirpuri, president of residents’ association of Queens Corner, alleged that repeated complaints to BWSSB to fix a leaking pipeline fell on deaf ears. In their statement, Legacy Global Projects also blamed the BWSSB saying the leak was not attended to despite their complaints on June 12. S Krishnappa, engineering chief, BWSSB said that it was only on Monday that the issue had come to his notice. However, he said many buildings had come up on the British era pipeline that had developed a leak.
Any attempt to fix the leak could have destabilised buildings in the vicinity.
“A new 300 mm pipeline was laid during the recent Tender SURE work on Cunningham Road. We will use the new pipeline and discard the old one without removing it,” he said.
Lal Mirpuri also alleged that they had written to Legacy Projects three months ago, bringing to their notice the cracks that had developed in their building and requested them to build retention walls in the pit they had dug.
The Residents Association of Queens Corner lodged a complaint against Legacy Global Projects with Cubbon Park police and an FIR has been registered. The builder was booked under Section 336 of the Indian Penal Code for an act endangering life or personal safety of others.
Statement of builder
In a statement, Legacy Global Projects claimed that large concrete pylons they had built against the mud wall had also collapsed in the accident. “Despite our best efforts to contain the situation, our attempts were in vain owing to lack of support from the BWSSB,” their statement said.
