Old, unsafe buildings in Amritsar await tragedy

Fresh surveys are being conducted on these buildings and once they are over, action would be taken by the authorities.

AMRITSAR: Fear looms large among people residing in the walled city of Amritsar as the ‘old and unsafe’ buildings tend to pose a threat to the human life in the oldest portion of city. These structures are likely to collapse any time soon, especially due to heavy rain.

Several such buildings fall in the surrounding areas of Golden Temple. The previous SAD-BJP government spent crores on the beautification project from Town Hall to the holiest Sikh shrine besides setting up the Heritage Street, but turned a blind eye towards such buildings, despite these being located in the vicinity of Heritage Street.

In a survey conducted by the municipal corporation (MC) three years ago, as many as 109 buildings were identified as ‘very unsafe structures’.

Presently, the count has come down to 90 with a few being demolished and others collapsing in the past three years.

Those collapses had also led to causalities.

Of 90 unsafe buildings, 14 have been given on rent. Ten such buildings are subjudice, while some of them remain locked.

Besides surroundings of Golden Temple and Jallianwala Bagh, Chowk Ghantaghar, Katra Ahluwalia, Guru Bazaar, Ghee Mandi, Chowk Mahna Singh, Cheel Mandi, Katra Baggian, Partap Bazaar, Gali Suniara, Chowk Passian and Katra Charhat Singh are the prominent localities hosting such buildings as per the survey.

The threat is not only for residents and shopkeepers who run their outlets in these areas, but also for tourists who pass through these streets and markets daily.

The alleys are too narrow and congested and may give a tough time to fire safety department in case of any fire.

Municipal town planning (MTP) department has reportedly issued several notices to the owners to construct new building by demolishing the old ones but very few have obliged.

The measures taken by the municipal corporation remain only on papers, leading to helplessness while dealing with the disputed buildings via legal route.

SAMEER SEHGAL/HT In a survey conducted by the MC three years ago, 109 buildings were identified as ‘very unsafe structures’. Presently, the count has come down to 90 with a few being demolished and others collapsing in the past three years.