Unapproved construction causes adjacent building to subside
A six-storey building subsided into the ground in Rajshahi city's Chandipur area yesterday, due to the unplanned and unapproved construction work of a multistorey building beside it.
The affected building, which housed Raj Pathological Centre, office of Advanced Chemical Industries Limited and BN Institute of Medical Technology, was vacated, said its owner Golam Maruf Chowdhury. Following the incident, utility connections were also cut off, he added.
With a heavy jerk, the building on 7.5 kathas of land subsided some six inches and cracks developed on its basement and walls in the afternoon, said Chowdhury.
He alleged that the incident occurred due to the digging work of a multistorey building next to it. A group of 34 physicians are erecting the 24-storey building on around 13 kathas of land.
He said last month he served a legal notice on the construction firm, Osman Ali Construction, as the workers dug an around 30-foot deep pit and did not take any precautionary step. On November 1, he also informed the Rajshahi Development Authority (RDA) about the matter.
Contacted, Abul Kalam Azad, authorised officer of RDA, said they have sent officials to the spot for inspection. “The subsidence occurred due to earth digging,” he said.
He said construction work of the 24-storey building was going on without RDA approval and proper plan. RDA stopped the work and asked the building owners to fill up the land immediately, he added.
Contacted, Rajshahi Medical College Principal Dr Nowshad Ali, one of the 34 owners of the building, said, “The contract was given to Osman Ali Construction, who was supposed to make sure about safety issues.”
Asked about RDA approval, he said, “We have already submitted the plan for approval and decided to start the work beforehand with their [RDA] verbal consent.” The authorised officer of RDA refuted the claim.
Contacted, Osman Ali, proprietor of the construction firm, said, “Incident like this [subsiding] happens whenever construction work is going on next to another building. Once the foundation work is completed, it won't happen again.”
He also said he started the work as per owners' approval.
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