Govt buildings alos in fear boz of Ukkadam incident
The collapse of a Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board flat on Vincent Road in Ukkadam on Friday claiming 13 lives and leaving 13 injured has created fears about the danger lurking in old and poorly maintained buildings with poor maintenance.The flats known as Slum Clearance Board houses under the control of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board were constructed in 1971. There are 24 houses in each block and in total, over 350 houses. All the houses were in a dilapidated condition and the worst of them was the ill-fated block next to the Ukkadam bus stand.It was unfortunate that upon noticing a crack in the foundation and the structure tilting, the police tried to evacuate people from that building as well as the nearby one.But it met with resistance by people demanding an instant assurance on alternative accommodation.City Police Commissioner C.K. Gandhirajan said that the police, as a preventive measure, began evacuation of the people around 4.30 p.m. itself besides blocking the road for traffic. Those who heeded the police plea survived. Eyewitnesses said that but for the warning from the police, the causalities would have been close to 100, since it was threatening to rain heavily forcing people to remain indoors. Some of them even threatened to stage a road blockade protesting against the move to evacuate them and their demand for an instant assurance was lost in the din.
Despite the heavy downpour, the pace at which men and materials were mobilised as part of rescue efforts by the Revenue Department, the Corporation, the police and the volunteers was crucial in saving victims with injuries.Notices of the Housing Bard, sent earlier asking them to vacate citing the poor condition of the 36-year-old building, were ignored.Housing Minister I. Periasamy, who visited the scene of occurrence, had assured to take stock of the condition of the government buildings that were 30 years old.The other government buildings, which are poorly maintained and are posing a danger to the residents, include the Housing Board apartments in Race Course, Ganapathy, Singanallur, Kavundampalayam besides the conservancy workers quarters on VKK Menon Road and Variety Hall Road.
While notices were being religiously served, those living there for years resist attempts to vacate. Continuing to occupy the house awaiting an assurance on alternative accommodation should not lead to a situation of more lives being lost, officials involved in rescue pointed out.Meanwhile, the residents said that with buildings that are threatening to collapse any time, the authorities should expedite the process of getting alternative accommodation.
