MCDs action plan awaited on seismic zone-IV buildings: HC told

New Delhi, Sep 4 (PTI) The AAP government has informedthe Delhi High Court that an "action plan" on making buildingshere compliant with the Building Code, 2005 for seismiczone-IV was still awaited from the three municipalcorporations. In its affidavit filed before a bench of justices BadarDurrez Ahmed and Ashutosh Kumar, the Delhi government saiddespite its "sincere efforts" to comply with the court’searlier directions, the matter was still lying with the threecorporations. The court had earlier directed the government to informit about the steps taken for finalising the building bye-lawsand for taking action for making the structures compliant withstipulations under Building Code, 2005 for seismic zone-IV. "Despite all above exercise, the reply/action plan isstill awaited from all the three municipal corporations ofDelhi i.e. NDMC, EDMC and SDMC. Hence, another letter datedJuly 20, 2016 has been again sent to all the three MCDs forsubmission of the requisite action plans. The action plans inthe prescribed common lines are still awaited," the affidavitsaid. It further said, "It is clear that all sincere effortshave been made by this department (Directorate of Local Bodiesin Urban Development Department) for compliance of the ordersof the court and the matter is lying with all the three MCDsi.e. NDMC, EDMC and SDMC." The court is hearing a petition by advocate ArpitBhargava questioning how safe were buildings in Delhi if amajor earthquake hits the city. The matter is now listed forhearing on September 7. The court had earlier observed that Delhi falls in a highrisk seismic zone IV and had sought action plans from variousauthorities to ensure that buildings in the city survived anearthquake. PTI ABA HMP ZMNAAR