A Correspondent, Rajshahi :
Around 300 new and oldest buildings in Rajshahi city have marked as vulnerable for earthquakes, posing risk of lives claiming and property damaging. But, the owners of the buildings are not taking any measure to remove or renovate those buildings due to extreme apathy. Most of these buildings were established by the owners without following of building code. Locals are now apprehending that, these may be collapsed and claimed lives any time, if any fierce natural disaster like large shaped of earthquake hits here.
Sources said that, Rajshahi City Corporation launched a fresh survey in the city to unearth the figure of vulnerable buildings after watching the devastation of recent earthquake, hit at Nepal and its neighboring areas. During the shaking, fresh cracks have developed at around 20 new and oldest buildings in the city. With the new, the authorities concerned of RCC detected around 300 buildings including multistoried in the city area as vulnerable. Of them, 290 are carrying high risk. Most of those are situating in Kamarpara, Malopara, Ghospara, Tikapara, Reshompatti, Bulonpur and Alupatti area in the city.
An official of RCC seeking anonymity told The New Nation that, most of the owners of buildings had constructed their infrastructure as per their willing after taking in name only approval. They did not follow the code of conduct of building construction and instruction of RCC. For this reason, the owners should remove or renovate those immediately.
He however said, RCC is going to issue notice to the owners of such buildings attracting their attention. If they fail to take necessary measures in scheduled time, RCC will take steps to demolish the buildings, he added.
District Administration sources said that, two buildings of kitchen market in Rajshahi city got tilted in the hit of an earthquake in 2006. At that time, RCC, District Administration, Zilla Parishad and RDA jointly formed a committee to find out the risky buildings. Since the period, the committee has been continuing their survey works and informing about the vulnerability to the building owners with the recommendation of remove or renovate their buildings, but to no effect.
During a recent visit to different areas in the city, this correspondent found that, many oldest buildings have remained in the city in vulnerable condition and uncared for. Many people however are living in the buildings despite the risk of live claiming.
While talking, Noor Samad, 55, owner of an oldest building at Malopara area said, his grandfather built the building around 80 years ago. After expiring of his parents, he and his younger brother are living in the building with their families. But, he can’t remove or renovate it for want of money.
Noresh Chandra, 40, of Tikapara in the city said, his building has now become vulnerable as cracks have developed at different parts of the building in the hit of tremor on April 25. But, he is now unable to renovate the building for want of fund.
He however said, if any bank or NGO provides loan with a less interest, he will take step to renovate the building immediately, he added.
Ashraf Ali, Engineer in Chief of RCC told that, they have sent letters to the owners asking to demolish such buildings. But, they are not following the order due to unknown reason.
He further said, RCC is now facing problem over mayor post as the government has recently withdrawn the former mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul. After selection of newly mayor, necessary action would be taken against the owners of vulnerable buildings, he added.
Around 300 new and oldest buildings in Rajshahi city have marked as vulnerable for earthquakes, posing risk of lives claiming and property damaging. But, the owners of the buildings are not taking any measure to remove or renovate those buildings due to extreme apathy. Most of these buildings were established by the owners without following of building code. Locals are now apprehending that, these may be collapsed and claimed lives any time, if any fierce natural disaster like large shaped of earthquake hits here.
Sources said that, Rajshahi City Corporation launched a fresh survey in the city to unearth the figure of vulnerable buildings after watching the devastation of recent earthquake, hit at Nepal and its neighboring areas. During the shaking, fresh cracks have developed at around 20 new and oldest buildings in the city. With the new, the authorities concerned of RCC detected around 300 buildings including multistoried in the city area as vulnerable. Of them, 290 are carrying high risk. Most of those are situating in Kamarpara, Malopara, Ghospara, Tikapara, Reshompatti, Bulonpur and Alupatti area in the city.
An official of RCC seeking anonymity told The New Nation that, most of the owners of buildings had constructed their infrastructure as per their willing after taking in name only approval. They did not follow the code of conduct of building construction and instruction of RCC. For this reason, the owners should remove or renovate those immediately.
He however said, RCC is going to issue notice to the owners of such buildings attracting their attention. If they fail to take necessary measures in scheduled time, RCC will take steps to demolish the buildings, he added.
District Administration sources said that, two buildings of kitchen market in Rajshahi city got tilted in the hit of an earthquake in 2006. At that time, RCC, District Administration, Zilla Parishad and RDA jointly formed a committee to find out the risky buildings. Since the period, the committee has been continuing their survey works and informing about the vulnerability to the building owners with the recommendation of remove or renovate their buildings, but to no effect.
During a recent visit to different areas in the city, this correspondent found that, many oldest buildings have remained in the city in vulnerable condition and uncared for. Many people however are living in the buildings despite the risk of live claiming.
While talking, Noor Samad, 55, owner of an oldest building at Malopara area said, his grandfather built the building around 80 years ago. After expiring of his parents, he and his younger brother are living in the building with their families. But, he can’t remove or renovate it for want of money.
Noresh Chandra, 40, of Tikapara in the city said, his building has now become vulnerable as cracks have developed at different parts of the building in the hit of tremor on April 25. But, he is now unable to renovate the building for want of fund.
He however said, if any bank or NGO provides loan with a less interest, he will take step to renovate the building immediately, he added.
Ashraf Ali, Engineer in Chief of RCC told that, they have sent letters to the owners asking to demolish such buildings. But, they are not following the order due to unknown reason.
He further said, RCC is now facing problem over mayor post as the government has recently withdrawn the former mayor Mosaddek Hossain Bulbul. After selection of newly mayor, necessary action would be taken against the owners of vulnerable buildings, he added.
