The Times of India 13.07.2012
Kanpur municipal corporation identifies 171 old buildings as unsafe
KANPUR: Poverty and financial constraints
had forced hundreds of people to live in dilapidated structures by
paying paltry sums as rent. During monsoon, occupants of such buildings
are at the mercy of Almighty.
Sources informed that since 2010, Kanpur municipal corporation had identified 171 buildings unsafe for living in the city. The authorities had served notices to the dwellers of dilapidated buildings but they continue to live.
Locals of Harbansmohal area, which dots several dilapidated structures, are living under fear of collapse of any structure. The way the region has been witnessing heavy rains since past two three days, the fear is understandable.
"The occupants have been apprised that the buildings could not be repaired anymore and warned that these could collapse during the monsoon season. However, no step has been taken to get the dilapidated buildings vacated," said Manoj, a local of the area.
Sources informed that KMC has not conducted any fresh exercise on collecting data of dilapidated structures. Last Friday, a major portion of a structure had collapsed in Chamanganj.
KMC sources said that the district authorities are contemplating a fresh survey to identify dilapidated structures. As per 2010 records, there are only 171 houses in a dilapidated condition in the city.
KMC official Rajiv Shukla said: "We have instructed our team of experts comprising engineers and other staff to launch a fresh drive to identify houses which are in a dilapidated state." In the past few years, notices were served to the occupants of 171 dilapidated buildings to leave the place. "No one paid heed to the notices," said a source.
Sources said that there are over 1,000 dilapidated buildings in the city. Many of them may collapse any time.
The KMC sources said that most of such houses are in localities like Harbansmohal, Moti Mohal, Canal Road, Nayaganj, Khapramohal, Rail Bazaar, Chamanganj, Beconganj, Chowk Sarrafa, Swaroopnagar, MCrobertsganj, Lajpatnagar, Govindnagar, Bhoosa Toli, Nawabganj, Generalganj, Birhana Road, Ram Narain Bazaar, Coperganj, Ghantaghar, Shivala, Colonelganj, Moolganj, Collectorganj, Meston road, Purana Kanpur and Aryanagar.
Though the KNN has been serving notices, occupants continue to live in dilapidated structures due to lack of alternative arrangements. The reality is that the district authorities do not have any foolproof plan or rehabilitation centres to relocate the residents.
Most of the occupants belong to below poverty line (BPL) group and cannot afford to buy new homes. "We know that the fragile building in which we are living is almost a deathtrap. But, then, we are poor people and can't afford to hire a house on rent or buy another home," said Danish, a resident of Hoolaganj.
In many cases, residents are also not willing to leave due to low rent. "We are being pressurised to take some money and leave. But, who will provide us an alternate place that too on such a cheap rent," pointed out a resident of a dilapidated building in the congested Moti Mohal area.
Ranvijay (name changed) and his family has been living in an old building in Gwaltoli that had been declared dangerous by KNN. But the family refuses to shift from the building. "We cannot forcibly make the residents of private buildings leave. Our duty is to only serve notices," said a KMC official. He added: "We have sent several notices to many such tenants living under dangerous conditions in old buildings and asked them to vacate the place. Most of them have refused on the ground that the matter is in the court."
Sources informed that since 2010, Kanpur municipal corporation had identified 171 buildings unsafe for living in the city. The authorities had served notices to the dwellers of dilapidated buildings but they continue to live.
Locals of Harbansmohal area, which dots several dilapidated structures, are living under fear of collapse of any structure. The way the region has been witnessing heavy rains since past two three days, the fear is understandable.
"The occupants have been apprised that the buildings could not be repaired anymore and warned that these could collapse during the monsoon season. However, no step has been taken to get the dilapidated buildings vacated," said Manoj, a local of the area.
Sources informed that KMC has not conducted any fresh exercise on collecting data of dilapidated structures. Last Friday, a major portion of a structure had collapsed in Chamanganj.
KMC sources said that the district authorities are contemplating a fresh survey to identify dilapidated structures. As per 2010 records, there are only 171 houses in a dilapidated condition in the city.
KMC official Rajiv Shukla said: "We have instructed our team of experts comprising engineers and other staff to launch a fresh drive to identify houses which are in a dilapidated state." In the past few years, notices were served to the occupants of 171 dilapidated buildings to leave the place. "No one paid heed to the notices," said a source.
Sources said that there are over 1,000 dilapidated buildings in the city. Many of them may collapse any time.
The KMC sources said that most of such houses are in localities like Harbansmohal, Moti Mohal, Canal Road, Nayaganj, Khapramohal, Rail Bazaar, Chamanganj, Beconganj, Chowk Sarrafa, Swaroopnagar, MCrobertsganj, Lajpatnagar, Govindnagar, Bhoosa Toli, Nawabganj, Generalganj, Birhana Road, Ram Narain Bazaar, Coperganj, Ghantaghar, Shivala, Colonelganj, Moolganj, Collectorganj, Meston road, Purana Kanpur and Aryanagar.
Though the KNN has been serving notices, occupants continue to live in dilapidated structures due to lack of alternative arrangements. The reality is that the district authorities do not have any foolproof plan or rehabilitation centres to relocate the residents.
Most of the occupants belong to below poverty line (BPL) group and cannot afford to buy new homes. "We know that the fragile building in which we are living is almost a deathtrap. But, then, we are poor people and can't afford to hire a house on rent or buy another home," said Danish, a resident of Hoolaganj.
In many cases, residents are also not willing to leave due to low rent. "We are being pressurised to take some money and leave. But, who will provide us an alternate place that too on such a cheap rent," pointed out a resident of a dilapidated building in the congested Moti Mohal area.
Ranvijay (name changed) and his family has been living in an old building in Gwaltoli that had been declared dangerous by KNN. But the family refuses to shift from the building. "We cannot forcibly make the residents of private buildings leave. Our duty is to only serve notices," said a KMC official. He added: "We have sent several notices to many such tenants living under dangerous conditions in old buildings and asked them to vacate the place. Most of them have refused on the ground that the matter is in the court."
