After SC order, Govt begins demolition of semi constructed high-rise residential tower, a part of which collapsed two years ago killing 61 people.

Builders for long have escaped with gross violations in norms, rules and regulations but there are times when even the slowly moving judicial process has meant the long arm of the law has caught up with them.

Once such case is the one relating to the Moulivakkam high-rise building collapse case, that occurred two years ago, in which one of the two residential towers under construction collapsed killing 61 people and injuring many. The building site was sealed and moves were afoot to demolish the second tower as well, as the 11-storey building was coming up on a marshy land and as such was not considered safe.

Two years after the incident, finally work has begun on the demolition of the second tower with the Supreme court recently vacating the stay granted on the demolition of the second tower of the Prime Sriti Housing Private Limited. The demolition of the second tower was ordered by collector Kancheepuram under whose jurisdiction the area in which the twin residential tower falls.

The builder, who was arrested later released on bail, challenged the demolition order in the Madras High Court that granted a stay, against which the TN government approached the Supreme Court.

The SC on May 12 ordered the demolition of the second tower after considering a report of the committee appointed by it that investigated the crash site.

After the SC order, the TN government invited bids for carrying out the demolition work, which has been awarded to a Tirupur-based firm. Officials said the cost of demolition would be around Rs 50 lakh. The personnel of the firm have already begun work and have placed explosives in the building, which is under increased security cover.

Traffic in the area is also likely to be diverted during day time when the demolition work takes place, three weeks from today. It would take just five minutes to bring down the building, sources said.

On June 28, 2014, Tower B of the residential twin towers came crashing down killing 61 people, bringing under sharp focus violations by builders ignoring safety norms. The land on which the building was coming up was marshy and said to be unable to support such a structure. Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa had visited the spot, two days after the accident and ordered strict action. Six persons, including the builder and his son were arrested in the connection.

The government also formed a committee under a High Court judge to probe the incident. Meanwhile Kancheepuram collector ordered demolition of the second tower as well. The builder went to Madras High court which stayed the collector’s order.

It was then that the matter was taken up to the Supreme Court, which vacated the stay and ordered the demolition of the building. It had also sent a probe committee that inspected the site and submitted its own report, after which the Apex court pronounced its order.