DTCP, admin holding up IIT audit: Chintels Paradiso residents

GURUGRAM: Residents of Chintels Paradiso, where a cave-in claimed two lives on February 10, accused the district authorities of dragging their feet on submitting all the documents that would help IIT-Delhi to complete the structural audit of the buildings.

Citing an interim report submitted by the IIT, the residents said neither the Gurgaon administration nor the town and country planning department had chosen an agency to conduct a lab testing of the debris. The preliminary IIT report last month had pointed out significant corrosion in the steel bars of the inspected buildings, wide cracks in the tiles, slabs and beams and swelling of the floors, saying these were “common occurrences”. The report did not rule out the possibility of flaws in structural design, material quality and construction of the buildings, and called for a detailed investigation and lab testing of the debris.

On Thursday, the Paradiso residents said the DTCP and the administration had submitted only three of the 10 documents that IIT had asked for to carry out a complete structural audit of the buildings. “Only the reports on the soil test,
material test and structural drawings have been submitted so far. Those related to modifications and repair works in the buildings, the complaints filed by the bresidents and several other documents are pending,” a resident said, referring to
the IIT interim report.

Rakesh Hooda, the RWA president of Chintels Paradiso, said the proposed audit was stuck because of the lack of documents. It has been almost two months since the authorities requested IIT to conduct the audit. But the process, officials said,
has made little headway since.

Deputy commissioner Nishant Yadav told TOI, “We are in the process of selecting eight to 10 reliable firms involved in structural audits. We have finalised the criteria and are waiting for the government’s approval. This will hasten the entire process as IITs tend to take a lot of time.” Contesting the allegations of dragging their feet, district town planner (enforcement) RS Batth said the structural audit was top priority for the authorities.