Tribune News Service
Shimla, November 14
The three-member fact-finding committee, formed by the government to probe the collapse of an eight-storey building at Kachi Ghati, is likely to submit its report this week. The experts from IIT-Roorkee and National Institute of Technology (NIT), Hamirpur, have submitted their reports.
Even though the committee, headed by Shimla Deputy Commissioner, was to submit its report by October 7, there was a delay as experts were roped in to give their opinion. The final report is likely to be submitted to Principal Secretary, Town and Country Planning (TCP), this week, reports said.
IIt, NIT Experts roped in
- The three-member fact-finding committee is headed by Shimla Deputy Commissioner. It also comprises the SMC Commissioner and Director, Town and Country Planning Department
- The committee is likely to make recommendations based on the inputs of IIT and NIT experts, who inspected the site to look for possible reasons for the mishap
- Though there was no loss of life as the building had been evacuated, the disaster raised questions on slackness on part of the TCP Department and Shimla MC in enforcing building norms
The committee is likely to make recommendations based on the inputs of the experts, who inspected the site to look for possible reasons for the mishap. As a precautionary measure, four other buildings were evacuated.
Seeing the situation and fear among owners of some adjoining buildings, the government had ordered demolition of two buildings, which has been since stayed by the High Court.
The fact-finding committee also comprises the Commissioner, Shimla Municipal Corporation (SMC), and Director, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department.
The eight-storey building had collapsed in Kachi Ghati area of the city on October 1 as the foundation weakened due to seepage of water. Though there was no loss of life as the building had been evacuated, but the disaster raised questions on slackness on part of the TCP Department and Shimla MC in enforcing building norms under the TCP Act, 1977.
Only one building collapsed but the manner in which multi-storey structures have been raised in this area, in violation of all norms, more such disasters cannot be ruled out. The Kachi Ghati area, being unstable and with loose soil, is not suitable to take the load of heavy structures.
The fact that this area, on the entry to Shimla from Tara Devi, has been merged in and out of Shimla MC, has given undue advantage to land owners to give all building norms a complete go by.
Courtesy: Tribune News Service