Lok Sabha Question No. 1789 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-08
Subject: Structural Safety of Buildings
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: A.P. JITHENDER REDDY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1789

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 8 TH  MARCH, 2016/PHALGUNA 18, 1937 (SAKA)

STRUCTURAL SAFETY OF BUILDINGS

1789. SHRI A.P. JITHENDER REDDY:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  any  specific  steps  have  been taken  by  the  Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) to ensure resistance and structural safety of buildings  and  structures located  under  its  jurisdiction  from  the  rising risks of potentially disastrous earthquakes;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

- (c) the key findings of the Justice Lokeshwar Prasad Inquiry Commission report,  along  with  the  status  of implementation  of  the findings in upcoming constructions in the NCT of Delhi;

(d)  whether the MCD has conducted any survey of old buildings, if so, the details thereof along with the number of buildings declared unsafe and the action taken by the Corporation in this regard; and

(e) the estimated timeline for regulating earthquake-resistance redevelopment in the National Capital Territory of Delhi area facing high vulnerability to earthquakes?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HARIBHAI PARATHIBHAI CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b):   The Delhi Municipal Corporations have informed that as per provisions of Building Bye-laws, 1983, the structural stability certificate for the proposed building signed by the owner, architect

and  structural  engineer  engaged  by  the  owner  is  submitted  by  the owner at the time of sanction of building plan.  Similarly, the structural stability  certificate  is  also  submitted  at  the  time  of  issuance  of completion-cum-occupancy  certificate.    Thus,  the  structural  safety  of building is relied upon the structural engineer engaged by the owner.  In this regard, qualified private structural engineers have been empanelled. As regards structural safety of existing old buildings from seismic hazard,  regulations/guidelines and subsequent strengthening / retrofitting  has  been  proposed  in  the  draft  'Unified  Building  Bye-laws for Delhi-2015.'

(c):  The information is being collected from Delhi Government and the same will be laid on the Table of the House.

(d):    The  East  Delhi  Municipal  Corporation  has  informed  that  a  visual survey to find out buildings prone to imminent danger is carried out by the Maintenance Deptt. of East DMC prior to monsoon every year.  In case  any  building  is  found  prone  to  imminent  danger,  the  same  is demolished by the Corporation.

The South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations have informed that as a precautionary measure they carry out pre-monsoon visual survey of ...3/-

## LS.USQ.No. 1789 FOR 8.3.2016

all  the buildings under their jurisdiction.  In case any building is found dangerous,  immediate  action  as  per  provisions  of  Delhi  Municipal Corporation Act, 1957 is initiated against the owner of the building.

- (e):  This is an on-going process and no timeline can be indicated.

*****