'50 metre danger zone in Moulivakkam cannot be declassified

Tamil Nadu government today told the Madras High Court that the 50-metre 'danger zone' in Moulivakkam where a multi-storied building collapse on June 28 this year killed 61 persons could not be declassified till the precarious 'A' block was demolished.
Stating this, Additional Government Pleader R Sanjay Gandi submitted that the area superscribed within 50 meters radius would continue to be "Danger Zone" till the second tower was demolished.
He made the submission in a counter affidavit on behalf of Kancheepuram Collector when a petition filed by a nearby unit Arun Enterprises, seeking a direction to declassify the premises from 'Danger Zone,' enabling it to carry out business, came up before Justice V Ramasubramanian.

The AGP submitted there were two multi-storied residential towers being built by Prime Siristi Housing Private Limited. The 12-storey B Block crashed on June 28, killing 61 persons and injuring 27 others, while the second tower, A Block, was still standing. Experts had assessed it as dangerous, weak and precarious. Government has already issued a demolition order, which has been challenged in the High Court, he said.
Last week, a small-scale industry owner had moved the court, saying continuation of the 'danger zone' tag prevented locals from resuming routine work near the collapse site.
He contended that though five months had passed since the incident, his furniture unit could not be reopened for regular business.

In his counter-affidavit, the Collector stated that the area would continue to be a danger zone till the standing building was demolished in public interest.
Citing experts' reports, he said 'A' block too had been built without several columns which were part of the design and using substandard materials.
He suggested that the unit could continue operations in 25 per cent of space not affected by the collapse.