"After the monsoon session, we will come out with an ordinance to this effect and would table the legislation during the winter session of state legislature," Minister of State for Urban Development Rajesh Tope said, while replying to a debate on the Borivli building collapse issue.
The government is also considering making registration of builders mandatory, the minister said. At present, the provision is applicable only to site supervisors, he said.
Tope announced a five-member technical committee comprising structural experts and people's representatives to go into the cause behind the building collapse.
As per prima facie probe, owner of the Vardhaman Jewellers shop on the ground floor of the building, Kailash Jain, has been found "responsible" for the tragedy as he "tampered" with columns, the minister said.
Cases under sections 304 (culpabale homicide), 427, 228, 337 and 338 of the IPC have been registered against Jain, Tope said.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner Jairaj Phatak has been assigned the task of preparing a report on trained personnel and necessary equipment to handle a crisis of such a magnitude, the minister said.
The state government would ensure that BMC implements the report, he added.
Maintaining that changes in development control rules were needed in respect of construction of new buildings, Tope said soil testing needs to be made mandatory. "There is also a need to ensure that the foundation is till hard-rock level," he said.
The government has decided to enforce structural audit of buildings over 15-years old, the minister said.
"After 15 years, the buildings would be periodically required to get structural stability certificate," Tope said.
A meeting of local people's representatives, including legislators would be convened shortly to discuss related issues, he said.
Report of the Dinesh Afzalpurkar committee on redevelopment of old buildings in the suburbs would be implemented, the Minister said.
© 2024 Rediff.com -