Thane sees rise in number of dangerous buildings

The number of dangerous category buildings has been increased by more than 1,000 this year in Thane city compared to last year, revealed a survey by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC).

Nearly 4,700 buildings in the city are in dangerous condition, a rise of more than 1,000 compared to previous year. The survey has also revealed that the number of buildings in extremely dangerous categories have increased to 95, despite the corporation evacuating 54 out of 69 buildings in this category last monsoon.

With monsoon around the corner, the TMC has begun a ward-wise survey of dangerous buildings in the city early this month. While the survey of number of dangerous buildings in the city is complete, the survey of number of people residing in these buildings is in process.

Sandeep Malvi, public relation officer of TMC said, “The civic commissioner on Thursday gave directives to evacuate all the buildings which are in C 1 category. He has also asked the ward officers to send the list of dangerous buildings in their area to the corporators in their wards. The corporators can also add to the list if they come across any dangerous buildings in their ward.”

The survey also revealed that there are 2260 buildings in C2B and 2236 in C3 categories.

“There are total 4705 dangerous buildings in the city as per our survey. Last year the figure was 3693. The buildings in C1 and C2A categories are most dangerous and should be evacuated before monsoon. This year around 95 buildings are in C1 category compared to 69 last

year and 114 buildings in C2A category against 91 last year,” a civic officer informed.

The corporation has published the list of these dangerous buildings in local publications for the residents to know if their buildings feature in the list and evacuate it on their own or the corporation will evacuate it forcefully.

“Last year we had evacuated 54 buildings in C1 category, however some of the buildings which got stay by the court had featured again in the list. Some buildings which are empty but yet to be demolished also have featured in the list. The number

have increased as all the buildings in Sindhi Colony in Kopri, Kamgar Hospital in Wagale Estate and Mhada Colony in Vartak Nagar have entered in this list of dangerous buildings this year,” the officer added.

Based on the condition, the buildings are categised into four: C1: Buildings that are extremely dangerous and unfit for occupancy, and need to be demolished immediately. C2A: Buildings that can be structurally repaired after which residents can reoccupy the building. C2B: Buildings that can be repaired without residents having to evacuate. C3: Buildings that require minor repairs.