New Delhi: North Delhi Municipal Corporation, which is being blamed for not declaring the building 'dangerous' despite repeated warnings, discontinued the contract of an engineer and suspended two others in connection with the collapse of a four-storey dilapidated building in Ashok Vihar on Wednesday killing seven persons. North Delhi MCD has ordered house-to-house resurvey for identifying dangerous buildings to Executive Engineers (Maintenance).
The civic body, even, admitted that the building was about 20-25 years old and its structure was 'weak' and in a "deteriorated condition" while asserting that no new construction activity or construction material was found at the site. In addition, the Delhi government has also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North West) Aslam Khan said that no arrest has been made in the building collapse case and no further casualties have been reported. Police said that they are conducting raids in different parts of city. They registered a case under IPC Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) against the owner Dharmender, his business partner Sachin and Sachin's father Roshan Lal, who had rented out the building in Ashok Vihar. All the accused are on the run. "We are searching the accused in building collapse as they are on run," said a top official.
North MCD in their press statement claimed that in the Sawan park building collapse issue, one junior engineer contract has been discontinued, one assistant engineer and executive engineer have been placed under suspension by North DMC. "Under the orders of the competent authority, Rajesh Sharma, Executive Engineer (M)-II/Keshav Puram Zone is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect pending inquiry against him," said the order issued by the North MCD's Vigilance Department.
The order issued late Wednesday also said that he will be paid subsistence allowance during the suspension period as admissible under the rules. "Under the orders of the competent authority, Abhay Jain, Assistant Engineer (Civil) presently posted in the office of EE (M)-II Keshav Puram Zone is hereby placed under suspension with immediate effect pending inquiry against him," said another order issued by the North MCD's Vigilance Department. The area falls under the Keshav Puram Zone of the BJP-led civic body.
Another press statement from North Delhi MCD claimed that they have ordered the house-to-house resurvey for identifying dangerous buildings to Executive Engineers (Maintenance) in their jurisdiction within seven days. It is also decided that already identified dangerous buildings be given notices for actions as required under provisions of DMC Act. The vacation notices to properties are issued and sealed if are found dangerous for life so that such incidence of house collapse are not repeated.
The building collapsed Wednesday, three weeks after the 20-25 year-old structure was 'inspected' by a municipal team following complaints, according to police.