Panic in Gurugram pocket as 6-storey building tilts

Residents in the urban village of Ulhawas (Sector 58) in Gurugram are living in panic eversince a 6-storey building in the neighbourhood tilted.

Fearing the building may collapse causing damage of lives and property, they have filed a complaint with the Deputy Commissioner's office as well as with the CM's Window for grievances redressal against the house owner, Om Prakash alias Doddy.

"The building was occupied by three families, including two tenants, who have vacated it. Cracks have also appeared in my 3-storey house adjoining it. Six families are still living in the three adjoining buildings," said Rajesh Ambawta, one of the complainants.

"The enforcement wing of the Gurugram Municipal Corporation (GMC) turned a blind eye as the owner flouted norms to increase the floors in the building. They are responsible for putting our lives at risk," said Pawan Kumar, another resident.

Kumar pointed out that on January 24 this year, a four-storey building in the village had collapsed killing seven people. In that case too, the owner of the building had flouted the norms.

"The district town and country planning laws allow only three-storeyed buildings on a 100-square gaz (900 square feet) area. Constructing a 6-floor building in a 100-square gaz (900 square feet) area is a violation of norms as its design cannot be approved by municipal body as well as Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP). The building owner has not even hired an engineer for the construction," said Ambawta.

"The owner had initially constructed 4 storeys. He added more floors recently. And we know that the foundation of the building is weak as it is only three to four feet deep. The additional weight of four more floors may have led the building to tilt to one side," he added.

Gurugram Sub-Divisional Magistrate Jitendra Kumar said: "We have received the complaint and a high-level team, comprising BDO Sohna, DTP Gurugram and the GMC enforcement wing is inspecting the building. Based on their report, we will take a decision whether to demolish the building or not. We cannot allow anyone to put human lives at risk for a few bucks."

( With inputs from IANS )