After a long wait, the demolition of dilapidated buildings has started in the city. Chennai Corporation has begun demolishing its own buildings that are dilapidated and pose a risk to residents. The Corporation owns around 2,800 buildings. A number of them are dilapidated.
The civic body has decided to delegate the Corporation Commissioner’s power of taking action against dilapidated buildings to deputy commissioners in each of the three regional offices in the city. This move is expected to speed up the process of demolition or restoration of dilapidated buildings in all the 200 wards of the city well ahead of the north-east monsoon this year. This week, the Corporation demolished its crumbling structures opposite Salt Quarters. “The occupants of the Corporation buildings were reportedly unwilling to vacate. Officials had to persuade them to do so. All debris of the buildings will be cleared shortly,” said Councillor Kalarimuthu of Ward 58.
Following the collapse of a number of buildings during the previous north-east monsoon, the Chennai Corporation decided to issue notices to dilapidated buildings, advising owners to either demolish or repair the structures. Even as stringent measures were expected to be taken within a month, the officials were unable to take action against owners who continued to keep the buildings ‘structurally unsafe.’
Residents will have to repair damaged buildings or demolish them to avoid a collapse of the dilapidated structures. The notices for such buildings are being issued under Section 258 of CCMC Act. The Corporation has also advised ward-level officials to take measures on prevention of misuse of the statutory provisions.
Last year, only 132 buildings in the city were estimated to be dilapidated. This year, the civic body is expected to complete a survey of all dilapidated buildings before the onset of the north-east monsoon, to prevent recurrence of major accidents. The number of such buildings in areas such as Royapuram, Triplicane, Chintadripet, Mylapore and Vepery is likely to be high.
Owners of the buildings will have to initiate measures on demolition or repair within 30 days of issuance of notice by the Chennai Corporation. After repair, the owners will obtain a stability certificate from structural engineers with Public Works Department.
