DC’s safety concern: Form panel to check Zirakpur buildings

Tribune News Service

Mohali, April 19

The Mohali Administration has recommended constitution of a high-level committee to check construction of high-rise buildings in the Zirakpur area. The development follows the collapse of an under-construction building at Zirakpur last week.

Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra sent a communiqué to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Local Government, Punjab, in which she recommended a review of building plans of all high-rise buildings constructed in areas under the Zirakpur Nagar Council during the past three years time by a high-level committee, comprising experts from either the IIT, Roorkee, or the IIT, Delhi.

In her letter, the DC mentioned that the review was important as some high-rise buildings were being constructed on the reclaimed bed of Ghaggar river.

“It is the need of the hour to check the buildings in terms of earthquake resistance, adherence to security guidelines, their age, their soil-bearing capacity etc so as to ensure the safety of people,” said Sapra, adding that the committee would ensure that no incident like the building collapse in Peer Muchalla took place in future.

She said after the implementation of the Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA) in Punjab, only registered builders could come up with group housing projects, but flats were also being constructed on pieces of land measuring as less as 100 sq yard. She said such builders were not following any rules/guidelines related to the safety of occupants of buildings.

The Deputy Commissioner has also recommended to the Additional Chief Secretary to direct the Nagar Council, Zirakpur, to not clear any building plan without the physical inspection of site.

“On the VIP Road and other places at Zirakpur, commercial or residential construction activity has not taken place as per the Master Plan. Illegal basements are being constructed where shops, discotheques and bars have come up leading to parking problem in the area,” said Sapra. She added that all these aspects should be covered by the yet-to-be-formed committee.

The DC said the district administration as well as the district police would provide all possible assistance to the committee.