‘Active’ MCD partially razes tilted building

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday started demolishing a four-storey building in Kalkaji that was declared dangerous a few days ago. The building G-13 (B) started tilting last month when the owner of the adjacent plot began digging a basement.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) on Wednesday started demolishing a four-storey building in Kalkaji that was declared dangerous a few days ago. The building G-13 (B) started tilting last month when the owner of the adjacent plot began digging a basement.

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The MCD was informed of it on September 29 and after taking stock of the situation, made arrangements to save the building by strengthening its basement and putting wooden bars to support the structure. But as it was a temporary arrangement, it asked the owner to demolish the building.

The owner, who runs a showroom in Lajpat Nagar, hired a demolition squad to do the job but the squad could not finish the work properly. “On Wednesday we were told that the hired squad had been unable to demolish the building. So the MCD took up the task. We have already demolished a part of the third floor. On Thursday, we intend to demolish two more floors,” said a senior official of the MCD.

The civic body has filed an FIR against the owner of the adjoining building, who is now absconding. The civic agency, which is presently dealing with the aftermath of the Chandni Mahal building collapse that killed seven persons, has of late stepped up its operations in identifying dangerous buildings.