Delhi News: This emerged as an outrage in the shocking incident in which three students were killed when heavy rainfall flooded the basement of Rau‘s IAS Study Circle, an IAS coaching centre at Old Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi. The library is located in the basement that was inundated in the rain on Saturday night. Preliminary investigations have revealed an apparent lack of a proper drainage system in the coaching centre as well as the road nearby. Furthermore, a library had been set up in the basement without the due permissions.
13 Coaching Centres Sealed for Building Violations
On taking cognizance of the calamity, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi sealed 13 coaching centres in Old Rajinder Nagar area for their failure to adhere to building bylaws. A team from MCD carried out a number of raids on Sunday targeting those institutes who were running commercial activities in basements, which is a clear violation of the existing building byelaws.
Delhi Mayor Shelly Oberoi has directed the MCD Commissioner to take stern action against the coaching centers running illegally in the basements throughout the city. The Mayor has also called for an immediate inquiry into the Rau’s IAS Study Circle incident regarding whether any negligence on the part of the MCD officials was committed. She said that in case of their involvement, then strict action would be initiated against them.
MCD’s Handling of Building Regulations Under Scrutiny
After the incident, strenuous criticism was placed on the handling of building regulations by the MCD. The incident reminds one of the same tragedy last year when a major fire broke out at an IAS coaching institute in Mukherjee Nagar, leading to a survey of coaching centres flouting safety norms.
Delhi High Court Orders Shutdown of Non-Compliant Coaching Centres
The Delhi High Court had, in May, ordered the MCD and the Delhi Development Authority to shut down coaching centers running without adhering to fire safety norms. The recent tragedy has brought forth renewed demands for strict enforcement of building and safety provisions so that such tragedies do not recur in future. The immediate response of sealing non-compliant coaching centres and the forthcoming inquiry by MCD argues an attempt at rectifying the lapses and restoring public faith in safety standards.