Hyderabad: HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath said officials had identified HYDRAA dangerous buildings in Anjaiah Nagar and initiated steps to remove them. He said the action was necessary to prevent loss of life after a seven-storey building collapsed in the area.
Ranganath inspected the demolition work at the site on Monday along with Kukatpally Zonal Commissioner Mayank Singh. Officials examined the condition of the affected structures and the risks posed to buildings nearby.
“We do not know which building may collapse and when. We need to act to prevent loss of life,” Ranganath said. He added that officials were identifying dangerous buildings in Anjaiah Nagar and taking steps to remove them.
HYDRAA dangerous buildings inspected after collapse
A seven-storey building had collapsed in Anjaiah Nagar of Serilingampally mandal on Saturday. Subsequently, another seven-storey building located next to it had become dangerous.
CMC and HYDRAA jointly started removing the damaged building on Sunday. The agencies continued the work on Monday as officials monitored safety conditions at the site.
Meanwhile, local residents complained to CMC and HYDRAA officials that several other buildings nearby were also dangerous. Ranganath said officials had therefore begun inspecting those structures. They would take steps to remove buildings found to pose a threat.
The HYDRAA Commissioner said encroachment on part of a stormwater drain had affected the strength of the structures. He said builders had constructed seven or eight floors on plots measuring only about 50 square yards.
According to Ranganath, permissions had been obtained for only two floors on the 50-square-yard plots. Builders had laid pillars and foundations designed for that permitted scale. However, they later constructed seven-storey buildings on the same foundations.
As a result, the foundations and structural supports did not have adequate capacity for the additional floors, he said.
HYDRAA dangerous buildings removal delayed by safety measures
Ranganath said authorities were taking precautions while removing buildings constructed without permission and in violation of rules. The operation was being carried out without creating additional danger for neighbouring structures.
Officials were particularly protecting nearby apartments and other buildings during the demolition work. Consequently, the removal process had taken more time, the Commissioner told the media.
He said authorities had also evacuated people in advance as a safety measure. The precaution was intended to keep residents away from the affected structures while demolition operations continued.
Ranganath said officials would continue acting against HYDRAA dangerous buildings identified in the locality. The immediate priority was to remove damaged and unsafe structures without endangering adjoining buildings.