After the blaze in an 11-floor building in Sigra, Varanasi Development Authority started a drive and identified 174 buildings. Teams formed to check buildings will submit reports in a week, said VDA vice chairperson Isha Duhan.
Each builder has been issued a letter to remove illegal construction and initiate corrective measures in a week to avoid punitive action.
The first group housing project’s map was sanctioned by VDA in 1984 and after that 174 group housing and apartments have come up so far, said Duhan providing a ward-wise list. All the builders and developers have been asked to initiate corrective measures in case they have overlooked building laws or conditions of sanctioned maps in a week, otherwise stern action would be initiated against them.
Teams led by zonal officers have been formed for inspection of each building and submit reports in a week, she said adding, cooperation of district administration and police has also been sought to maintain law and order during this exercise.
The chief fire officer has been asked to check fire safety measures in the 174 buildings.
On April 7 night, fire broke out in a flat on the fourth floor of Annapurna Grandeur Apartments in Sigra police station area and it engulfed two neighbouring flats also.
Prompt action of fire fighters checked the spread of fire. An FIR was lodged against two builders in this connection.
The district administration had asked VDA to carry out a special drive in all group housing societies to ensure that all building and safety norms have been adhered to properly.
District magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma asked VDA to initiate appropriate action in cases where the prescribed norms and conditions as mentioned by VDA while sanctioning maps were overlooked.
Commissioner of police A Satish Ganesh has also sought a detailed report from CFO on fire safety measures in each group housing project and apartments.
