Delhi LG Orders 7-Day Safety Audit Of All PG Hubs After Satya Niketan Collapse

Delhi: Day after the tragic building collapse in Satya Niketan near Delhi University’s South Campus, Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu has ordered a comprehensive safety audit of all paying guest (PG) hubs across the national capital within a week.

Chairing a high-level meeting at Lok Niwas, jointly presided over by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood, the LG directed strict action against illegally-run PG accommodations and called for creating alternative, safe housing for students.

The meeting was attended by the Chief Secretary, NDRF Chief, MCD Commissioner, Police Commissioner, DU Vice-Chancellor, DDA Vice-Chairman and Principal Secretary, Education, along with other senior officials.

The move comes after the building collapse in Satya Niketan that killed seven people, including two labourers, and left 12 injured.

CM Meets Injured, Assures Help

Earlier on Tuesday morning, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta visited the injured admitted to the hospital and met their families.

“I met the injured children. 12 people were rescued in injured condition, out of which seven have died. Two of the seven were labourers. One labourer is admitted here and his condition is stable with a severe leg injury. Two children admitted here are completely fine and will be discharged today. One child is in ICU and his condition is more serious,” the Chief Minister said.

She assured the best medical treatment and financial assistance to the families of the deceased students and labourers, adding that the government is in constant touch with all the parents.

The CM also said that the adjacent building has been declared dangerous and will be demolished.

No Random Sealing, Only Targeted Inspection

Keeping students’ interests in mind, the LG directed that there should be no panic or chaos in the name of administrative action. He said indiscriminate sealing drives could leave students suddenly homeless.

He ordered that special inspection drives should only be carried out in buildings where there is a prima facie violation of height and floor norms.

“Without structural safety, PGs cannot be allowed to operate,” the LG said, directing the Chief Secretary to ensure mandatory structural audit of all major PG hubs in student-dominated areas within the next one week.

New Hostels, Alternative Housing

The meeting acknowledged a huge gap between demand and supply of student housing in the capital.

To bridge this gap, a special committee headed by Urban Development Minister Ashish Sood has been formed. The committee will:

– Review institutional PG guidelines

– Explore alternative student accommodations through universities, MCD and DDA

– Examine feasibility of using vacant buildings of DDA and MCD and DDA’s housing stock for students

DDA and Land & Development Office (L&DO) have been directed to help universities with NOCs, necessary approvals and enhanced FAR (Floor Area Ratio) for fast construction of new and modern hostels inside campuses.

Minister Ashish Sood said structural safety audit of buildings is the government’s top priority. It was also agreed that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will take strict action against all illegal constructions in the city.

Database Of Students

To establish direct communication with students, the joint committee of District Magistrate (DM), DCP and DC (MCD) formed in June has been asked to actively reach out to all students living in PGs and listen to their problems.

A comprehensive database of all students living in Delhi will also be prepared to ensure their safety and welfare, officials said.