Owner says he sought Walia's help, minister denies charge

Amritpal Singh Sachdeva on Wednesday claimed that he met Delhi urban development minister AK Walia and told him about the water filling in the basement of his building that collapsed in Lalita Park on Monday.

Amritpal Singh Sachdeva on Wednesday claimed that he met Delhi urban development minister AK Walia and told him about the water filling in the basement of his building that collapsed in Lalita Park on Monday.

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"I told him that my building was suffering from heavy seepage. He even told me that he would help out," claimed Sachdeva to reporters in Karkardooma Court.

However, Walia denied Sachdeva's claim. Walia said he did what he could as the minister and the MLA of the area.

"On complaints of the residents and residents' welfare association, I surveyed the area with engineers of the MCD and irrigation and flood control department. The two agencies also removed water from that area at least twice. Since the underground water level had risen, water again flooded basements of several houses," he said.

He added that Sachdeva never came to him with the complaint. "Rather, residents complained against him (Sachdeva) that he had blocked a drain which led to water stagnation in the area," said Walia.

Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit constituted a one-man inquiry commission to look into Lalita Park incident. She said former high court judge Lokeshwar Prashad would look into several aspects of the accidents.

The chief minister said the commission will submit the report within 90 days.