BJP leader Praveen Shankar Kapoor has accused officials of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) of “criminal negligence” in identifying unsafe buildings during the civic body's pre-monsoon survey. Kapoor, who serves as Delhi BJP spokesperson and general secretary of Chandni Chowk Nagrik Manch, alleged that the exercise grossly underreported the number of dangerous structures across the capital.
Survey Findings Questioned
In a letter addressed to Delhi Mayor Pravesh Wahi and MCD Commissioner Sanjeev Khirwar, Kapoor questioned the survey findings, which reportedly identified only 19 dangerous buildings after inspecting more than 27 lakh properties across Delhi. He described the identification of just four unsafe buildings in the City Sadar Zone as “ridiculous” and said it failed to reflect the actual situation on the ground.
Kapoor claimed that, if accompanied by the Mayor and the Commissioner, he could point out at least five dangerous buildings on Church Mission Road and Khari Baoli alone. He further alleged that nearly 150 to 200 unsafe buildings remain occupied in localities such as Chandni Chowk, Ballimaran, Sitaram Bazaar, Chandni Mahal, Jama Masjid and Nabi Karim. According to him, at least 25 of these buildings face the risk of collapse during the ongoing monsoon season.
Wider Concerns Across Delhi
The BJP leader also claimed that a detailed survey in other municipal zones, including Karol Bagh, Shahdara North, Shahdara South, Mehrauli, Narela and Najafgarh, could identify more than 1,000 dangerous buildings across the city. He urged the civic authorities to initiate immediate corrective measures, including action against officials responsible for the alleged lapses.
Kapoor demanded the restoration of the Municipal Corporation’s dedicated Dangerous Buildings Department, which he said had been disbanded. He also called for making the identification, inspection and monitoring of unsafe buildings a year-round exercise, instead of restricting it to the pre-monsoon period.
Demand for Accountability
In his letter, Kapoor stressed that the current approach is insufficient to ensure public safety. He argued that a year-round monitoring system would help prevent tragedies during the monsoon season. The MCD has yet to respond to the allegations, but the issue highlights ongoing concerns about building safety in the capital.
