The Trichy Corporation has identified 739 buildings as unsafe structures and has issued notices to the owners to either vacate or strengthen the buildings to avoid untoward incidents resulting in casualties.
The number of unsafe structures were identified in a recent survey carried out by the corporation on residential and commercial buildings. In 2018-19, the number of unsafe structures across all 65 wards, was at 398, while it went up to 510 in 2019-2020.
Official sources said that they had served the notices under the Corporation Act well ahead of the monsoon. As a result, 49 of the weak buildings have been demolished, 47 vacated and 14 have undergone strengthening, so far.
“If cracks are spotted developing from the window, the building is vulnerable to collapse suddenly. Settlement (downward movement) of the building is the next sign. If these signs were witnessed, a site inspection by a structural expert is imminent,” K Muthukkumaran, professor, department of civil engineering, NIT Trichy told TOI.
Seepage of rainwater through cracks within the buildings is another sign of collapse. Old houses that share a common sidewall in areas such as Woraiyur, Rockfort and Srirangam have been asked to check the stability periodically since the weakness of one building will impact adjoining structures too.
As the bearing capacity of the soil is influenced by floods and heavy rain, the monsoon period is identified as the most vulnerable time for building collapses. Experts said that any mild and intermediate deviations in the stability can be restored economically.
“Some of the weak buildings were demolished while a few still stand. The owners are apathetic to our fears,” a resident of Big Bazaar street said.
“Residents are not understanding the seriousness of weak structures, so they refuse to vacate. We have lodged 73 police complaints seeking the support of law enforcement agencies to evacuate them from the structures,” a senior corporation official said.
The buildings, if strengthened, should avail a stability certificate from the relevant authorities to remove their property name from the list of unsafe buildings.
