Systemic changes needed to prevent unsafe buildings from coming up

New Delhi: Though Delhi authorities have swung into action making several arrests and launching a drive for survey and demolition of dilapidated buildings in the national capital, but all this comes too late. Seven lives have been lost and five people have been injured in the collapse of five-storey building in Delhi, being run as a private hostel.

This tragedy has once again brought into focus the problem of shortage of decent, affordable and legally constructed building for housing and other purposes.

Students have no alternative to going for illegally and poorly constructed private hostels as educational institutions in the metro city have very limited hostel accommodation. Thousands of students get admissions in various institutions every year, and have no option but to live as PG in unregulated areas. The buildings where they live are poor in ventilation and have been constructed flouting fire safety regulations. So in a way these students are paying not only in terms of money but also in terms of safety and security.

The Delhi building collapse tragedy reminds one of another tragedy that happened in 2024, when heavy rains flooded the basement of a coaching centre claiming the lives of three civil service aspirants. As always happens inquiries were set up basements were sealed and legal action was taken against owners but not changed much after that.

Following September 6 tragedy in South Delhi’s Satya Niketan, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has launched a drive for demolition of “dilapidated” buildings in various parts of the national capital, to identify unauthorised and unsafe structures.

The Delhi Police on Wednesday arrested PG operator Sudhanshu in connection with the building collapse, taking the total number of arrests in the case to five. Earlier, the Police arrested the 75-year-old building owner Urmila and her two family members.

The Delhi government has also formally initiated the process of setting up a dedicated State Disaster Emergency Relief Force (SDERF) for the national Capital to strengthen the city’s preparedness and response during major emergencies.

All these reactive steps were required and they were taken, but it is not the permanent solution. The Delhi government should act against building mafias. No demolition would be needed if illegal structures are not allowed to come up at all. Moreover, the Centre and the Delhi government should work together to increase accommodation facilities in educational institutions and provide affordable hostels, and ensure strict compliance of safety norms in private buildings which provide PG facilities.

—–India News Stream