Civic body fails to carry out audit of wadas

Pune: The municipal corporation here has failed to conduct the structural audit of wadas in the 'dangerous' category.

In 2013, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) had identified over 25,000 properties in the city that needed immediate repairs. Since then, there has been no comprehensive survey. According to civic officials, the number has increased over the time.

Prior to the monsoon, the civic body identified 384 dilapidated wadas that were vulnerable to accidents. "Of the 384 wadas in the mid-city area, the structural audit of only 161 wadas has been completed," the civic administration said in a written statement tabled in the general body (GB) meeting.

Following the collapse of Laxmi Chhaya building in Borivali in 2007, which claimed 30 lives, the state government, decided to amend the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation (BPMC) Act in 2008.

Subsequently, the PMC approved the resolution to implement the state government's decision in Pune. It was made mandatory for occupants residing in buildings that were more than 30 years old to submit a structural stability certificate to the corporation. If housing societies neglect the suggestions made by the engineers, the civic body was empowered to repair the structure and recover the money in the form of property tax.

City engineer Prashant Waghmare said that the civic body repeatedly asked old housing societies and wadas to conduct a structural audit and submit the report. A few years ago, there was an effort on the part of the PMC to conduct a structural audit of buildings and recover the charges from the property tax.

However, the plan failed to yield fruit as the civic body lacked resources and manpower.

Officials said that tenants in old wadas were not ready to vacate fearing that they would lose their claim over the properties. To resolve the issue, the PMC started mentioning the names of tenants and owners in notices sent for repair work. This was in accordance with the guidelines issued by the state government in 2015.