The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has strongly criticised the Gurugram Municipal Corporation for its failure to take decisive action regarding 54 buildings that have been officially classified as "unsafe" within the city.
The commission has directed the municipal commissioner to personally appear before the panel at the next hearing and provide a comprehensive explanation for the inaction.
A panel headed by HHRC chairperson Justice Lalit Batra, along with members Kuldeep Jain and Deep Bhatia, has expressed serious concerns over the inefficiency of the municipal body in addressing the issue.
The matter gained prominence following the tragic incident on February 10, 2022, when a section of a high-rise building in Chintels Paradiso Society collapsed, leading to the deaths of two women and injuries to another individual.
Following the collapse, the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which has since filed two charge sheets, naming 11 accused in connection with the disaster. The HHRC, in its latest statement issued on Wednesday, underscored the alarming state of structural safety in Gurugram.
Reports submitted to the commission indicate that authorities had initially identified 183 potentially dangerous buildings, of which 152 underwent inspections. At first, 80 buildings were deemed hazardous; however, the latest findings now classify only 54 structures as unsafe.
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Additionally, 15 buildings remain uninspected, raising further concerns about the Gurugram Municipal Corporation's inadequate response to public safety risks.
The municipal commissioner has been ordered to appear in person at the next hearing scheduled for May 20. Chief Engineer Manoj Yadav has also been directed to be present before the commission and submit a comprehensive report detailing the current status of the 54 unsafe buildings and the inspection progress for the remaining 15 unexamined structures.
The HHRC issued a stern warning to the municipal authorities, emphasising that failure to take swift and concrete action would be considered a direct threat to public safety. According to a statement from HHRC Public Relations Officer Dr. Puneet Arora, the commission is closely monitoring the situation and expects immediate corrective measures.
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In a recent order, the panel asserted, "It is amply clear that the authorities of the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, are displaying a lack of interest in taking substantive action against defaulters concerning the 54 dangerous structures identified to date."
The order further stated, "If municipal authorities take more than five to six years to act against violations, particularly in cases involving structurally dangerous buildings, it may be construed as a deliberate compromise on the part of the Municipal Corporation, Gurugram, thereby putting public safety at grave risk."
The commission also highlighted the plight of residents forced to live in these structurally unsound buildings.
"A glaring example of such negligence occurred on February 10, 2022, when the roof of a multi-storey building in Chintels Paradiso Society collapsed. This incident starkly highlights the gross inaction and negligence on the part of the authorities," the order added.
The HHRC's directive serves as a firm reminder to the municipal corporation that public safety must be treated with urgency and accountability, and any further delay in addressing the issue could have serious consequences.
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