Vacate extremely dangerous buildings immediately: Thane Municipal Commissioner

Buildings declared as extremely dangerous in Thane city should be evacuated immediately for the safety of citizens and while vacating those buildings, the municipal officials should treat the citizens with courtesy and not insult them, said Thane Municipal Commissioner, Abhijit Bangar. The municipal commissioner held a meeting on Friday to review pre-monsoon preparations. In this meeting, there was a discussion about evacuation of high-risk buildings, their difficulties, alternative arrangements, transit camps, etc.

Water and electricity supply should be cut off

Water and electricity supply should be cut off immediately to buildings of both extremely dangerous (C1 class) and dangerous (C2 a class) types. Instructions given by the Urban Development Department regarding pre-monsoon action for old or dilapidated buildings should be strictly followed. The commissioner also directed that there should be no delay in this.

There are a total of 86 extremely dangerous buildings in the Thane municipal area of which 37 have been evacuated and 49 buildings have residents. The Commissioner instructed them to vacate these 49 extremely dangerous buildings immediately. Citizens of these buildings should immediately shift to alternative places. If there is no alternative arrangement for the residents of extremely dangerous official buildings, and if there is a need from the point of view of their safety, the municipal corporation is trying to provide a temporary alternative arrangement, the Commissioner explained.

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Families in unauthorized high-risk buildings will be provided with temporary alternative arrangements in schools. The commissioner also mentioned that they should search for a new place within that period.

If in doubt take help of VJTI or IIT-B

The Municipal Corporation should verify the reports of VJTI or IIT-B on an expeditious basis for the repair reports of dangerous buildings where there is doubt. The commissioner said that the municipal corporation should bear the cost if necessary.

Immediate repair should be done

There are 192 buildings in Thane Municipal area which are dangerous but will be habitable after constructive repairs. Those buildings have to be vacated and repaired. Families in these buildings will be provided with temporary alternative accommodation in transit camps in nearby schools for the duration of these repairs. The concerned should repair this building immediately, Commissioner Bangar said. Apart from extremely dangerous and hazardous buildings, the city has the following types of building repairs without evacuation (2374) and minor repairs (1647) in old buildings. They have also been instructed to make immediate repairs.

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If alternative arrangements for some families in the official building are necessary, efforts should be made to provide an alternative that is acceptable to the locals as far as possible. So those families will be least inconvenienced. Also, when evacuating extremely dangerous buildings, explain the danger situation, tell the public representatives the situation of the building. Citizens will certainly support it. Meanwhile, the commissioner asked the permanent department to list the available places for alternative accommodation, transition camps in nearby schools department wise and give it to the circle deputy commissioner immediately.

Placards should be placed on the buildings

On the facade of extremely dangerous and dangerous buildings, signs indicating that the building is extremely dangerous should be displayed. On other hazardous buildings, information on what symptoms are observed before the building collapses should be prominently displayed. This means that the citizens will be aware, Commissioner Bangar said.

Extremely dangerous buildings (C1 class) status

Dangerous buildings (C2 class) status