New Delhi: The collapse of a five-storey building housing a boys’ PG in south Delhi’s Satya Niketan has put the spotlight on the approval, inspection and safety mechanisms governing basement construction in the city.As questions arise over who is responsible for sanctioning a basement and monitoring the construction, civic officials said permission for constructing is granted by the urban local body concerned. The basement forms part of the sanctioned building plan and construction has to comply with the applicable provisions of Master Plan of Delhi 2016, along with other building regulations and statutory requirements.The responsibility for inspection is also shared between empanelled professionals and the civic authority. For plots measuring up to 500 square metres, empanelled professionals are responsible for the prescribed certification and inspection, while the civic body has a statutory role in monitoring compliance.According to Municipal Corporation of Delhi, mandatory clearances and safety requirements, including fire and structural safety provisions, have to be complied with before and during construction, depending on the nature of the building and the work involved.Any basement constructed without permission, or modified in violation of the sanctioned building plan, can invite action under applicable laws, including Delhi Municipal Corporation Act, officials said. The rules include having a strong room, adequate ventilation and only one basement, they added.
