Bengaluru: Security threat, but buildings rise

Bengaluru: The proposed 13-storey Legacy Cataleya Apartment on Cunningham Road has not only made the lives of residents of Queen’s Corner Apartment and Income Tax Colony miserable, but is also posing a serious security risk to Raj Bhavan and Vidhana Soudha, located nearby.

Areas around 1-km radius of Raj Bhavan come under high-security zone and the construction of any building above 15 metres is banned. But there are already a few high-rise buildings in the zone.

This is the latest in a series of lapses by the BBMP and other planning authorities, who have failed to ensure that builders adhered to norms. Approvals have been given without considering the safety of neighbouring structures and their residents.

Even after the caving in of a portion of earth at High Point Apartment near Basaveshwara Circle a couple of year ago, the BBMP officials are yet to get builders to get the building impact assessment reports done.

“Like environment impact report, the neighbourhood impact assessment too should be made mandatory for high-rise and double basement projects, as they dig up to 30 feet. The surroundings should be secured with proper technology to avoid structural damage to adjoining buildings,” said Mr V. Rangaswamy, consultant, Sundaram Architects.

BBMP administrator T.M. Vijay Bhaskar told Deccan Chronicle that he inspected the project and found that the builder had violated the norms by not securing the surroundings. “A team of engineers has been sent to the spot to ascertain the extent of damage. Based on the report necessary action will be taken. An FIR has been registered against them,” he said.   

A narrow escape for five residents

For five residents of the Queens’ Corner apartment it was quite literally an escape by a whisker on Monday, when the earth caved in on the premises. Recounting the horror, the president of the Queens’ Corner Residents Association, Lal Mir Puri, said that at least five people would have been trapped in the gaping hole that appeared on Monday morning. “We are lucky to escape by 15 minutes!” he added.

“On Monday, till 10.50 am we were standing on the same spot for over one hour checking the gap that developed between the floor and the compound of the apartment premises and possible action to be taken to secure the property. We dispersed at around 11.05 am. Soon the same spot just sunk like a ship,” he said.

Thangam Venki, recalled that she was just metres away from the crater and recalled that kids of the apartment generally play at the portion that caved in due to excavation by Legacy builders. “We have taken an accommodation at Ashraya hotel as it is convenient. Every time, either me or my husband go to our flat to get necessary things. We are scared to send our kids,” Thangam said.

BWSSB to blame, says Legacy

Legacy asserts that the unfortunate incident at its development on Cunningham Road on June 15 was because of the sheer negligence shown by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board (BWSSB) in not rectifying the large faulty pipe passing through our site, which was gushing water and causing soil erosion. Even though Legacy had submitted a letter to the BWSSB on June 12, drawing the attention of the officials concerned to the impending danger, no action was taken by BWSSB officials.

The BWSSB allowed water supply through the faulty pipe last night, while the work on repairing the damage caused by the same was ongoing. It has been brought to BWSSB’s notice, vide letter dated June 16. Legacy is committed to work with the affected families to ensure that they are not put to any hardship anymore, a Legacy spokesperson said.