MCD to blacklist architect over twin building collapse in Delhi

New DelhiThe Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will soon initiate blacklisting proceedings against the architect or structural engineer who cleared the building plan of the twin housing in Rohini Sector 16 that collapsed on Wednesday, killing three and injuring two, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday

New Delhi

The site of the building collapse. (Vipin Kumar/HT Photo)

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will soon initiate blacklisting proceedings against the architect or structural engineer who cleared the building plan of the twin housing in Rohini Sector 16 that collapsed on Wednesday, killing three and injuring two, officials aware of the matter said on Thursday.

A senior MCD official from the Rohini Zone, requesting anonymity, said that they had been assisting with the rescue operations until Thursday and would initiate action soon.

“We will now issue the architect a notice to initiate blacklisting proceedings. Prima facie it appears there was a lack of oversight on the part of the private architect who cleared plans under the SARAL scheme. If found guilty, the architect can be blacklisted for three to five years. There is no stricter punishment possible and there is no provision for an FIR or other punitive activity,” the official said.

To be sure, even as the Delhi Police has registered an FIR against the builder over allegations of poor-quality material being used, MCD officials said that the empanelled architect or structural engineer needed to oversee the entire process, including ensuring the quality of materials.

Mayor Parwesh Wahi said, “There should be more oversight in the construction, even for projects under the SARAL scheme. The scheme was introduced to help people and reduce corruption, but some form of monitoring is required. I have spoken to the commissioner about increasing checks even under this scheme.”

On being enquired if the labourers were staying at the site, a second municipal official stated that under the Unified Building Bye-Laws (UBBL) for Delhi 2016 and the Delhi Municipal Corporation (DMC) Act, 1957, there is no explicit clause prohibiting workers from staying at a worksite.

“In some of these accidents, we have observed that the construction workers were staying on site,” the official said.

To be sure, the law requires employers to provide temporary living accommodation at the worksite for workers, under the Building and Other Construction Workers (BOCW) Act, 1996 and the Delhi BOCW Rules, 2002.

Section 34 of the BOCW Act makes it mandatory for the employer to provide—free of charge and within the work site or as near to it as may be possible—temporary living accommodation, with separate cooking space, bathing area, and washing and lavatory facilities to all building workers.