HYDERABAD: In the wake of loss of lives, mostly due to collapse of retaining walls/compound walls in the city recently, GHMC has decided to seek submission of separate plan for building retaining wall from owners and builderss.Builders or owners who approach corporation for building permission, town planning wing will insist that builders or owners seeking building permission submit a separate plan on retaining walls to ensure accountability for stability of the structure, GHMC chief city planner S Devender Reddy told Express.
Builders or owners will be asked to construct retaining walls only with reinforced cement concrete (RCC) material instead of using granite which is responsible for wall collapses. They will have to give an undertaking to the effect. If they are found to have flouted the rules, action will be taken.
A few years ago there were several incidents of people getting killed when old and dilapidated buildings crumbled due to heavy rains but in the last two or three years several construction workers have been killed when retaining walls collapsed.
Instructions were issued to the town planning staff to check against excavation of cellars during monsoon season and to take strict action against violators. In the case of cellars already dug, the builder or the owner should be advised to take all standard safety precautionary measures
Despite several incidents of compound walls coming crashing down and claiming the lives of workers, GHMC and the labour department have failed to crack the whip on errant builders, many of whom compromise on the safety of workers.
‘Govt responsible for water-logging’
BJP held the state government responsible for the water-logging, inundation of low-lying areas and traffic woes that occured in the aftermath of heavy rains on Monday and Tuesday. “This government is unable to take minimum precautionary measures during rains,” BJP state unit chief K Laxman said.