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Magisterial probe into Zirakpur building collapse holds builders, contractor guilty of gross lapses
Builder obtained approval for building houses, but raised a four-storey building instead in violation of norms.
The Dera Bassi sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) probing the April 12 building collapse at Peer Muchalla in Zirakpur has held the builders and contractor guilty of “gross lapses” that led to the building giving way.
SDM Paramjit Singh submitted the report to Mohali deputy commissioner Gurpreet Kaur Sapra, who had ordered the magisterial probe after Floral Vista building, coming up at Imperial Garden in Peer Muchalla, came crashing down within seconds on April 12. There was no casualty.
The under-construction four-storeyed residential building had a parking area on the ground floor and 12 flats on three upper floors.
Sources said the builder of Floral Vista obtained no-objection certificates (NOCs) for plots under the policy floated by the previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government in Punjab for regularisation of unauthorised colonies, and got building plans approved to construct houses. However, circumventing the permissions given, the builder constructed independent floors instead of houses.
Apart from this, the design of the building was not certified by a structural engineer. When contacted, SDM Paramjit Singh refused to give details of the report, saying, “I have submitted the report.”
Also read | Building collapse: In Zirakpur, buildings occupied sans completion certificates
Builder sublet construction
Sources in the Mohali administration said Floral Vista building was coming up on 600 square yards, owned by Pushp Empire Private limited that has a registered office at Dhakoli, Zirakpur.
They said the building plans were passed in the name of Pushp Empire Private limited whose directors had further signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three people — Sanjeev Goyal, Amit Goyal and Mandeep Singla — who were constructing the Floral Vista building.
Police have already booked 11 people, including the builder, promoter and MC councillor Ajaib Singh, under Sections 420 (cheating), 336 (act endangering life or personal safety of others), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 427 (mischief causing damage to the amount of fifty rupees), and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
PEC’s report awaited
Though the report of the magisterial probe has been submitted, officers concerned refused to divulge details as the inquiry ordered by Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu is still underway. A seven-member committee headed by director, local bodies, Karnesh Sharma, is conducting the probe.
The committee got Chandigarh’s Punjab Engineering College (PEC) to conduct tests on bearings columns, concrete strength, but the findings of the tests and analysis have yet to be submitted to the panel.
Public notices to buyers
Battered by allegations of corruption and misgovernance following the building collapse, Zirakpur Municipal Council had issued a public notice, issuing a stern warning to home buyers not to take possession of the flats without checking the completion certificate from builders.
On April 19, Punjab local bodies minister Navjot Singh Sidhu had visited the spot and announced that no builder will hand over possession with obtaining a completion certificate.
