Chennai Corporation starts inspection of dilapidated buildings to prevent collapse this Northeast Monsoon

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has begun inspecting dilapidated buildings to prevent collapse during the Northeast monsoon. Teams led by Regional Deputy Commissioners inspected the damaged buildings in various parts of the city on Friday.

GCC Commissioner G.S. Sameeran said: “Chennai Corporation has identified 294 dilapidated private buildings, 286 of which were given notices and 83 demolished as on date. A total of 67 government buildings, other than those belonging to the GCC, were identified as dilapidated and 12 were demolished, while 133 of the 207 dilapidated GCC buildings were demolished as on date. The rest of the dilapidated buildings are kept unoccupied.”

“In total, 568 buildings were identified as dilapidated, of which notices were issued to 519. A total of 228 were demolished as on Friday,” Mr. Sameeran said.

Residents of several neighbourhoods have demanded that the government resolve issues pertaining to redevelopment in various zones of the city.

S. Gunamani, president of the Thiruvalluvar Nagar Multi-storied Apartments Residents’ Association, said: “The 366 families in the apartment complex built by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB)have been demanding government intervention for redevelopment. We organised protests. The risk [of collapse] remains high because of the delay in resolving the issues.”

Resident M. Pachaiammal said they had complained to officials about the risk of collapse of the dilapidated buildings during the previous regime. “The houses were constructed in the 1970s. The risk of flooding is high and the structure is becoming weak,” she said.

Federation of North Chennai Residents’ Welfare Association president T.K. Shanmugham said: “Many poor people in north Chennai face the risk of building collapse. Government agencies, including TNHB, Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority, Public Works Department, and GCC, must improve coordination to help the residents.”

Several buildings have collapsed during the previous monsoon seasons, some resulting in the death of residents.