Venkaiah Naidu pushes for accountability for building collapses
In view of the increasing rate of building collapse incidents, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today spoke in favour of incorporating in the law certain provisions which would hold responsible officials concerned, when such accidents occurred due to negligence on their part. He spoke with reference to the cases in Delhi and Chennai.
He said that people like the building inspector, the local town planner, the area in-charge, should be made responsible and accountable if something happened during their tenure. Naidu was speaking at a conclave where ministers from various states were present.
He also made clear how no official could be held responsible for such incidents if their tenure had ended, but that accountability would have to be fixed. This would be incorporated into the existing municipal laws, he said.
Naidu also spoke about the media role in such incidents, saying how the media highlighted such building collapse incidents whenever there was one, giving rise to concern, and that some good, well-meaning officer would then step in and order demolitions. However, the exercise would invariably be suspended if the hue and cry died down.
His comments have come in light of the recent incidents of building collapse in Chennai and New Delhi, where 53 people and 10 people respectively lost their lives.
Source- The Hindu Business Line
Housing and Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Nadu, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu, urban development minister, Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu
