Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) recently demolished a three-story Wakad building under construction due to safety concerns. Thus, the architects and owners of the structure are being held responsible for this incident.
Demolition of Wakad's Hazardous Three-Story Building
On Wednesday, Feb. 14, PCMC demolished a three-story building in Wakad with a land area of 50 square meters, which was identified by senior resident number 4039. As mentioned, concerned citizens contacted the Fire Brigade Department at approximately 10:17 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 13.
According to the officials, more than three inches wide fissures had appeared in the building and slanted to one side. In response, personnel from the Pimpri and Thergaon fire stations utilized porcelain and excavators to reinforce the structure temporarily. Thus, more than ten individuals living in the building next to it were evacuated to guarantee their safety when the hazardous construction was discovered.
On the other hand, concerns were expressed regarding the decision of the municipal governing body to authorize the construction, particularly given that the building surpassed the allowed capacities. The municipal engineer of PCMC, Makrand Nikam, explained that the building was still being constructed and was not occupied at the time. Permission to build the building had been obtained from the district office of the PCMC. Nevertheless, it is reportedly the responsibility of the owner, the architect, and the designer to make sure that the structure of the building is sturdy.
Sunil Delwani, a resident of Pimpri, was the owner of the property, and Mallik Arjun, a native of Ambegaon, was working as the architect for the structure. It has been stated that overloading and an excessive amount of structure beyond what is permissible are the causes of the weak structure.
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Other Concerns on the Demolition
The owner of the building, Sunil Dolwani, stated that the structure was being constructed in a way that was entirely by the plan that the PCMC had approved.
In his statement, Dolwani indicated that he did not observe any tilt in the building when he arrived at the location on Feb. 14. It was a private contractor whom the building's owner had hired to complete the work. Dolwani was informed by them that there were no issues with the building, either the structure's design or the building's construction.
Moreover, since last year, the contractor has been working on building construction. Dolwani said he must have spent over 30 lakh rupees or almost $37,000 on constructing this structure. Therefore, he reportedly urged PCMC to refrain from taking down the structure. However, the local officials stated that there is a possibility that the building may collapse in the future, which will put the lives of the people who reside in the surrounding area at risk.
According to community activists, PCMC authorities never came to assess the structure while it was being constructed. Nevertheless, based on the PCMC administration, the inspection is conducted solely upon the structure's completion after its approval. Regarding building work, Nikam noted the company does not conduct inspections while the job is in process unless there are concerns.
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