Gujarat: Concerns over security of EWS buildings rise after baby dies in slab collapse

Concerns have been rising over the security of homes constructed for the Economic Weaker Sections (EWS) below the JNNURM scheme in Surat seven years in the past, after frequent incidents of harm to the buildings.
On Monday, the roof of a constructing collapsed, killing a one-year-old woman, following which the Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) determined to shift the residents to different EWS quarters within the neighbouring Vadod space.
The incident occurred on the second-floor residence of Pradip Khande, a tempo driver, whereas his household, together with his spouse Asha and one-year-old daugther Shiya, was asleep. The constructing quantity 5 of Saraswati Nagar Awaas, was constructed below the JNNURM scheme in Bhestan, Surat, in 2016.
Neighbours rushed the three to hospital the place Shiya was declared useless and the couple was discharged after remedy. Residents of the constructing gathered on the New Civil Hospital and demanded that the SMC present them alternate housing preparations. Parents of deceased woman refused to simply accept the physique until their demand of redevelopment was accepted. Mayor Hemali Boghawala met the residents and promised to conform to their demand, following which the couple accepted the physique and the gang left.
According to SMC zonal head of the Udhna Zone, RC Jariwala, “The Saraswati Nagar Awaas was built in 2016 and was allotted to beneficiaries who were removed from the Tapi river banks and other slums. There are 20 towers with 640 flats in Bhestan where we will carry out a survey to find out how many buildings are in poor state. The flat owners will be given eligibility certificates and will be shifted to EWS quarters of around 340 flats built by the SMC in Vadod.”
SMC’s slum upgradation cell govt engineer Mahesh Jaimalani stated, “The EWS houses were constructed under the JNNURM scheme and allotted to beneficiaries. Fifty per cent of the cost was borne by the central government, while 20 per cent was borne by the state government and the remaining 30 per cent by the SMC. The SMC used to take 12 per cent of the construction cost while allotting houses. We have also constructed Bhimnagar awaas, which will be redeveloped soon.”
Reacting to the developments, former municipal councillor of Congress from Bhestan ward, Satish Patel, stated, “Over 50 incidents of slab collapse have taken place in Saraswati Nagar over the past four years. In seven years, the structures were damaged as good quality materials were not used. I have raised the issue of redevelopment in every general board meeting, keeping in mind the safety of people. Corrupt practices had been followed during the construction. An inquiry committee was set up to probe but the report is awaited.”
Sushila Pawar, a resident of Saraswati Nagar, stated, “We have been making representations to the SMC for the past four years requesting them to do repair works of the buildings but no action has been taken. Now they have come up with a redevelopment plan but we want a third-party evaluation of the construction. We request the SMC to shift us to our old slum settlement as we are safe over there. We don’t want to die here.”