Lok Satta calls for drive against unsafe buildings in city

State Lok Satta Party President Katari Srinivasa Rao today asked the Government and the civic authorities to launch a drive to identify all structurally unsafe buildings in the 400-year-old city of Hyderabad and take steps for their demolition in the wake of the collapse of a hotel at Ranigunj in Secunderabad early on Monday morning.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao, who visited the scene of the tragedy and called on the injured at Gandhi Hospital, said in a media statement that the Government as also all political parties should allow laws and regulations to take its own course in respect of grant of permissions for new buildings as also demolition of unsafe buildings. He pointed out that there have been instances of the Government permitting construction of malls and commercial complexes overruling objections from the police and fire service departments and politicians interfering in matters that should be left to civic authorities.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao also underlined the need for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation to equip itself with latest equipment and technology to handle disasters to minimize loss of life and limb.

He appealed to people not to impede rescue operations by gathering at sites of tragedy in large numbers, although they are welcome to join rescue efforts.

Lok Satta Party Greater Hyderabad unit president and vice-president Dosapati Ramu, Gorthi Srinivas accompanied Mr.Srinivasa Rao.