Govt looking for feasible solution on buildings safety: Walia

Amid fears that accumulation of water, which was identified as a key reason for collapse of the east Delhi building, could endanger other structures on Yamuna riverbed, Delhi Government on Friday ordered chalking out of an urgent plan to drain stagnant water from the area.

Amid fears that accumulation of water, which was identified as a key reason for collapse of the east Delhi building, could endanger other structures on Yamuna riverbed, Delhi Government on Friday ordered chalking out of an urgent plan to drain stagnant water from the area.

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Delhi Urban Development Minister A K Walia, during a visit to low lying areas in East Delhi, directed Irrigation and Flood Control department, Delhi Jal Board and Central Ground Water Board to urgently remove accumulated water and jointly work on a lasting solution to the problem faced by buildings on Yamuna riverbed.

"We must find a feasible solution to the problem. Otherwise a number of colonies which came up across M B Pushta road will continue to remain in danger," Walia said after the visit.

Accumulation of water in the basement of the building at Lalita Park in Laxmi Nagar has been identified as one of the main reasons for the collapse of the four-storeyed structure last Monday that left 70 people dead.

Over 60 families, mostly labourers from West Bengal and Bihar, were living in the cramped quarters of the 15-year-old four-storey building where two floors were constructed illegally.

Walia, who is also MLA from Laxmi Nagar constituency, took a round of Yamuna river bed opposite Ramesh Park. He was accompanied by a number of senior officials from Central Ground Water Board, Irrigation and Flood Control department, DJB, DDA, PWD and MCD.

Officials said that although water level has receded in several areas, water accumulation has led to concerns about safety of several buildings in the area.

They said that there were fears of recurrence of such an incident as basements of several buildings were damaged and cracks have become visible.

A suggestion to construct a small temporary drain to flush out water into river Yamuna was also discussed during the visit.