New Delhi: MCD has received structural safety certificates from only 53 of the 2,457 PG accommodations surveyed across its 12 zones last month. The remaining establishments are yet to complete the exercise.In the aftermath of the Satya Niketan collapse and following directions from Delhi High Court, MCD had conducted a physical survey of PGs within its jurisdiction and asked the owners to get fresh structural safety audits conducted by engineers empanelled with the civic body and submit the reports.“The exercise aims to ensure the structural safety of buildings and mitigate the chances of PG collapses. Occupants were given 15 days to get the survey sone and submit safety certificates,” an official said.MCD will wait till Oct-end for owners and occupants to complete the exercise, he said, adding that the number of empanelled structural engineers is limited and completing the audits takes time. “From next month, we will start sending reminders, followed by necessary action against defaulters as per norms,” he said.On Sept 6, a PG facility collapsed in Satya Niketan, claiming seven lives and leaving six critically injured. Subsequently, HC directed MCD to survey PG accommodations and check whether they had valid construction permissions, complied with building bylaws and possessed the necessary safety and statutory approvals.According to MCD, it does not have an in-house facility to conduct structural audits, i.e., technical assessments of buildings’ structural health, stability, safety and load-bearing capacity, which helps identify defects that may not be apparent during routine visual inspections, said the official.Unlike some other municipal laws, Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, 1957, does not specifically mandate routine structural audits of all ageing private buildings. However, Section 348 empowers municipal authorities to inspect, repair or demolish structures considered dangerous or ruinous.Sources said MCD and Delhi govt are working on a stricter policy for periodic structural audits and safety certifications, particularly for older buildings used for public activities. “We expect the structural audit process to be accelerated afterwards,” said the official.
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