BMC makes approvals more stringent, puts onus of structural stability on builders
In a bid to keep the builders on toes and shift the onus of structural stability of a building on developers, Sitaram Kunte, the Municipal Commissioner has made building proposal approvals more stringent. In addition to other things that builders need to factor in , they will now have to ensure that precautionary measures are in place during designing, construction and maintenance of a proposed building.
A circular issued by the office of municipal commissioner said, “Building proposals will be approved if all underground structural members are designed considering the effect of chlorinated water, sulphur water, seepage water… Due care while constructing the same should be taken and a completion certificate shall be insisted on before granting further certificate of commencement (CC) beyond the plinth from the licensed structural engineers.” Civic officials said, “chances of building collapses often increase as the foundation of a structure is not as per the required structural stability measures. Underground water from drains might corrode the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) beams, which is the foundation of a building”.
Developers and architects are however of a different view and argue that such a directive is not foolproof. In the words of Shirish Sukhatme, the president of the Practicing Engineers Architects and Town Planners Association (PEATA), “Various civic infrastructures such as storm water drains and sewage lines are damaged due to infrastructure work, causing seepage, which can affect a particular building. Also, while a building can ensure structural stability at the underground level, this exercise is useless if the neighbouring building has seepage problems.”
A spate of recent building collapses has brought in light the lack of structural stability of buildings in the city. In the Aftab Manzil collapse in June last year, which claimed 10 lives, the builder had made illegal alterations on the ground floor, including removal of beams and columns. In yet another case, an illegal building in Mumbra, which collapsed like a pack of cards killing 61 people in April last year was constructed without any structural stability design.
Source: The India Express
Aftab Manzil collapse, beams, BMC, Civic infrastructures, columns, Design, Mumbra, Municipal Commissioner, PEATA, Practicing Engineers Architects and Town Planners Association, Sewage lines, structural stability, water drains
