Noida: Call on audit of buildings near Supertech twin towers left to CBRI

NOIDA: After several flip-flops, it’s the Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) that will decide whether a structural audit of residential buildings within a 50-metre radius of the Emerald Court twin towers in Sector 93A is needed.

During a review meeting on Tuesday, it was decided by the Noida Authority that CBRI’s decision would be final in this regard.

Noida Authority chief architect and town planner Ishtiyaq Ahmed said if the CBRI give an opinion in favour of a structural audit, Supertech, the developer of Emerald Court, would have to get it done by a reputable consultant and submit a report. It would also have to get repairs and retrofitting done if required, Ahmed said.

The Noida Authority also directed Supertech to pay Rs 70 lakh for consultancy services CBRI has provided so far within three days. CBRI has been appointed as an expert body to oversee the demolition process of the twin towers, which are to be brought down on August 21. Supertech had earlier declined to carry out a structural audit as Emerald Court had been handed over to the RWA. The developer had also cited the appointment of an interim resolution professional (IRP) by the National Company Law Tribunal.

The private company entrusted with the demolition, Edifice Engineering, in the meeting, submitted a status report, saying work is on the track and the demolition can go as planned on August 21 at 2.30pm.

Edifice informed that the Vibration prediction report from a UK-based company had been received and, according to IT, the maximum ground vibration is expected to be 34 millimetres per second whereas in seismic zone 5 all the structures are designed according to the standards of 300 mm per second. Hence, it said, no structural audit is required.

The company added that 99.6% of pre-demolition work is complete and only wrapping of nine columns with iron mesh and geotextile cloths is just left.

The company also submitted a debris management plan to the Noida Authority, identifying land parcels where debris could be dumped in Noida. Now, the plan will be jointly assessed by the Pollution Control Board and the Noida Authority.

In the meantime, Edifice was asked to look for big chunks of land given the high volume of debris. The two buildings – Apex and Ceyane – weigh around 60,000 tonnes.

With the charging process of the buildings – when explosives are brought in – scheduled from August 2 to August 20, entry of only authorised employees of Edifice and its partner Jet Demolitions will be allowed. Around 20 cops would guard the premises round the clock. The entire area will be monitored through CCTV cameras.

On the suggestion of covering lawns and shrubs of nearby residential societies with plastic sheets to protect them from the dust arising as a result of demolition, Edifice and Noida’s civil and horticulture wings will prepare an action plan by July 31.