The Kolkata Municipal Corporation has showcaused the licenced building surveyor (LBS) and structural engineer for the Bowbazar building that is being pulled down so a new construction starts there.
The demolition of the old building triggered a collapse of portions of an adjacent building on Tuesday.
Sources in the civic body said the structural engineer and the surveyor, who is also an engineer, are responsible for the demolition of old buildings in cases where a new building will be built after pulling down the existing structure. The surveyor is also responsible for the new construction.
They are the ones who design a new building and sign on a proposed plan that is submitted to the civic body. Only empanelled structural engineers and LBSes are allowed to design buildings and the KMC has the power to cancel their empanelment if they are found negligent in their duties.
“It is the responsibility of the LBS to supervise the demolition of the old building and construction of the new building,” said a senior official of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC). “We have showcaused them because they should have supervised the demolition and ensured that no damage was caused to the adjacent building,” said the official.
Residents of the adjacent building alleged on Tuesday they had a close shave as chunks of the ceiling on various floors collapsed under the impact of the demolition work that was underway.
The plot on which the three-storey building — 6/1A Ram Kanai Adhikari Lane — stands is located next to 7 Ram Kanai Adhikari Lane, where the demolition work was going on.
Across Calcutta and in its neighbouring places, licenced building surveyors and structural engineers rarely supervise a construction or demolition job though they are supposed to do so. It is a common allegation that they rarely visit a construction site and end their association with a project once the KMC approves the building plan.
“Both the engineers leave the demolition and new construction completely on the contractor, but they should plan the demolition and also ensure that the contractor is constructing a new building according to specifications mentioned in the approved plan. The beams, the columns and the materials used should be according to the specifications mentioned in the approved plan,” said a CMC official.
The incident also highlights the risks associated with demolition and construction even when there is a building permit. “There can be poor workmanship and the quality of materials can get compromised in the absence of supervision,” said the official.