The Justice R Reghupathi Commission of Inquiry that probed the collapse of 11-storey building The Faith, one of builder Prime Sristi's twin towers Trust Heights, in Moulivakkam last June said the surviving building at the site resembled the structure that collapsed “in terms of all shortfalls and deviations that contributed to the mishap“.
The soil is loose, sandy and watery and pile foundations were not laid to a depth of 18m. The report blamed the collapse on the building being constructed primarily with a raft foundation. It also said pillars had been removed for driveways. Experts who checked the building detected insufficient concrete settings, and cracks and punctures in columns.
The report said the “present tragedy is a self-speaking parable“, adding that it is unknown how many projects, both completed and under construction, have similar deficiencies.
“The present instance is the best example about the dark side of the real estate and construction business, where [only] money is considered... and lives of human beings and customers are put at stake to test the duration of the feeble constructions raised by them.“
Noting that regulatory agencies lack technical experts, the commission recommended sweeping changes in CMDA's functioning, including the setting up of a panel of technical experts from CMDA, legal officers and experts in soil investigation, foundation design and structural engineering to carry out field inspections at every stage of construction.The committee should inspect buildings at various stages, including earth work stage, laying of foundation, basement and concreting of each floor, the report said.
Even though the Tamil Nadu government has a di rectorate of vigilance and anti-corruption, Justice Reghupathi suggested that the state set up a vigilance wing to keep a check on underhand transactions between officials in the regulatory agency and developers.
Regarding the losses suffered by customers who had invested in the ill-fated building and neighbours, whose houses were damaged in the disaster, the commission urged the government to set up a committee to assess the loss and pay compensation by drawing money from its disaster relief fund.
Buyers are still repaying loans though their apartments were lost in the collapse, the commission pointed out and said it felt the need to go beyond its brief and suggest ways of assuaging their sufferings.
Developers in the city welcomed most of the recommendations, but expressed reservations about retaining money from contractors for 10 years. “CMDA retains a deposit from developers. Blocking more money as surety will add to project cost,“ a city developer said.
