After spate of tremors, SDMC gets cracking to ensure seismic stability

New Delhi: The South Delhi Municipal Corporation has now issued 30 more notices to residential group housing societies, educational institutions, schools and asking them to submit a structural audit report within 30 days, in light of the recent spate of tremors that have hit the Capital.

The SDMC has said this exercise is meant to ensure seismic stability for the buildings. The building owners are responding to the notices and six owners have already started the process of engaging structural consultants and consulting the engineers of the municipality. The corporation has so far identified 103 buildings needing such attention and issued notices to them.

In addition to this, the SDMC has been conducting surveys to identify high rise buildings and structures under its jurisdiction to examine their seismic stability and urging Residents Welfare Associations and Housing Societies to approach it for proper consultations and advice from experts and engineers on the subject.

The Cheif Engineer of the SDMC's Building Department said that the list of empanelled structural engineers is available on the corporation's website. Officials have said that they have recently empanelled 7 more structural engineers for consultation work. Besides, premier engineering institutes like IIT Delhi, DTU, NCCBM and other institutions recognized by the AICTE can be approached by the public for the structural audit of their buildings.

SDMC has also identified 27 municipal buildings for a structural audit and started engaging structural consultants for retrofitting work to ensure the structural safety of these buildings. The inspection work is being carried out at the SDMC Pry School Keshopur, Dabri Community Centre, Zonal office Building in Lajpat Nagar, M&CW, Jangpura and SDMC Pry School Old Sagarpur.