Uttar Pradesh: Additional chief secretary Nitin Gokarn, issues directions to stop illegal activities in basements

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 30 (ANI): In the wake of the accident related to loss of lives due to waterlogging in the basement of Rau’s IAS coaching institute located in Old Rajendra Nagar, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Additional Chief Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, Nitin Gokarn, on Tuesday issued directions to development authorities to stop illegal activities in basements.

He directed the formation of a team of junior engineers, assistant engineers, and zonal officers for intensive and regular inspection and monitoring of illegal construction activities, including construction in basements. He directed to ensure that the use of the basement is as per approved standards and maps.

“Identify such constructions and ensure action against those where basements are constructed without map approval or contrary to the approved map. Ensure that no excavation is done during the monsoon where the map for the basement is approved.” the direction reads.

The Additional Chief Secretary advised that the excavation should be done with proper standard safety measures to ensure that there is no risk to the lives and property of the residents, working labourers, or others.

The direction further said, “Responsibility will lie with the inspection team, the authorities/special area development authorities, and the competent authority of all regulated areas.”.

After the death of three students in the coaching centre of Delhi, now the district administration has become alert in other parts of the country as well.

Meanwhile, on Tuesday, the District Magistrate of Patna ordered an investigation of all the coaching centres of Patna.

Earlier in the case of the death of three UPSC aspirants after flooding in Rau’s IAS coaching centre, the accused was sent to a 14-day judicial custody by the Tis Hazari court on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on Monday formed a high-level committee to investigate the flooding in the basement of a coaching institute, which led to three civil service aspirants’ deaths due to drowning in Delhi’s old Rajinder Nagar.

The committee will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, identify the responsible parties, and recommend measures to prevent such incidents soon.

“MHA has constituted a committee to inquire into the unfortunate incident at a coaching centre in old Rajinder Nagar in New Swlhi. The committee will inquire into the reasons, fix responsibility, suggest measures and recommend policy changes,” the Home Ministry spokesperson said in a series of posts on the social media platform ‘x’.

The committee will submit it in 30 days.

The incident, which occurred on Saturday after a nearby drain burst, claimed the lives of Shreya Yadav (Uttar Pradesh), Nivin Dalwin (Kerala) and Tanya Soni (Telangana) in the basement of Rau’s IAS circle in Old Rajendra Nagar.

The coaching centre was later sealed by the police.

The three civil service aspirants died after a basement library at Rau’s IAS campus was flooded during heavy rain on Saturday night, reportedly causing damage to the dingle biometric entry and exit point.