Delhi Govt announces ex-gratia for building collapse victims

Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit and Lieutenant Governor Tejindra Khanna, who today visited the site of the building collapse in Lakshmi Nagar, said strict action would be taken against those found guilty for the incident which has left 65 people dead and at least 80 injured.

Khanna said he has told MCD to carry out a survey of all buildings in Shahadra zone so that weak buildings can be retrofitted to prevent similar incident in future while those beyond repair will be sealed.

"I have told MCD commissioner to carry out a survey with help from Central Building Research Institute in Roorkee. After the survey, retrofitting of weak buildings can be carried out. Those which cannot be retrofitted will have to be sealed," he said.

Dikshit said already magisterial inquiry has been ordered and strong action would be taken against those found responsible for the collapse.

"Strict action would be taken against the guilty...The builder is absconding,". While Rs two lakh ex-gratia will be given to families which have lost an adult member, Rs one lakh will be given in case of death of a child.

Rs one lakh will be given to each of those injured in the incident lats night, officials said.

Dikshit said although permission was given for a three storey building, the builder had constructed a five-storeyed one. She said the "foundation of the building was so weak that it collapsed.

"Exemplary punishment should be given to the guilty so that similar incident does not happen in future," she said.

Khanna said MCD has been told to complete the survey of weak buildings within three-four months.

"We will have to draw a comprehensive long-term plan," he said. Dikshit said normally government gives ex-gratia of Rs one lakh to the kin of the deceased but has decided to double the amount for the victims of the collapse.

"We have doubled the compensation ," she said.