Chennai: Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority on Monday announced that the 11-storey building in Moulivakkam, which claimed 61 lives in June 2014, would be razed on Wednesday.
A statement from the secretariat urged residents not to panic as government departments had taken up all prior safety measures. “Those residing near the building site will be provided a temporary stay and free transport. Two fire engines and ambulance services will be kept ready within the 100 metre radii of the site. A private contractor has been appointed to bring down the structure by adopting controlled implosive technology,” the press release said.
Recently, the Supreme Court passed directions to demolish the building and in view of the orders, a private contractor was finalised to demolish the structure at a cost of Rs 49.95 lakh. Due to paper works and safety measures, the demolition got delayed and is now scheduled for November 2, a senior revenue official said.
DMK leader M.K. Stalin had filed a petition at the Madras high court seeking direction to demolish the existing structure, provide compensation to the affected persons and transfer the investigation to CBI. The matter has now reached the Supreme Court and is pending.
In its status report, the CMDA submitted that the Supreme Court had ordered demolition of the existing unsafe building Block-A. Accordingly, the work of demolishing the building at a cost of Rs 49.95 lakh was awarded to a contractor.
To use advanced and safe technique of controlled implosive technology it requires identification of spot for placing the explosives precisely. The preliminary work for demolition has started, CMDA said.
