MCD orders inquiry into civic centre waterlogging

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has ordered an inquiry into waterlogging and leakage in its Rs 650-crore new headquarters building, the Civic Centre. The civic body has said action will be taken if any negligence is found.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has ordered an inquiry into waterlogging and leakage in its Rs 650-crore new headquarters building, the Civic Centre. The civic body has said action will be taken if any negligence is found.

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A meeting of the MCD Standing Committee witnessed a ruckus over the issue, with opposition Congress councillors shouting slogans and demanding a CBI probe into the matter.

They also sought blacklisting and stoppage of payment to the Malaysian contracting firm engaged in the project.

Three months after the state-of-the-art building was unveiled, several parts of the 28-storeyed, 112-metre Civic Centre, Delhi ’s tallest building, were seen waterlogged on Tuesday.

Following overnight rains, seepage of water through wall and pipes was also detected.

The basement was under knee-deep water.

MCD Standing Committee Chairman Yogender Chandolia asked a probe panel, headed by Engineer-in-Chief Ravidass, to file a report into the matter in three days.

Municipal Commissioner K S Mehra said that action will be taken if anyone was found negligent.

“It seems water had leaked through expansion joints, work on sealing of which is still to be done in some places,” said Ravidass.

“The waterlogging at the basement was probably because the pumps did not work,” Ravidass added.

“There are no cracks in the walls, as is being said. There are some technical problems which led to the flooding,” he added.