SHILLONG: Defective house constructions, lack of periodical check on the part of Meghalaya Urban Development Authority (MUDA) and the PWD, and the absence of punitive actions against house owners who violate the norms have very often resulted in loss of lives due to landslides coupled with flash floods in parts of the city.
Tuesday’s tragedy which claimed eight lives at Mawbah (Barapathar), here, was no different. All the victims were staying in different rooms of a rented house.
Though the original house owner is believed to be residing somewhere in Jaiaw, the house was leased out to one Dinesh Boro, who in turn had rented out the rooms to the unfortunate victims.
During the spot visit to the accident site on Tuesday, it was revealed that there was no high retention wall to protect the house from landslide or any other natural calamity. Moreover, the house was a weak structure and the impact of the landslide resulted in the casualties.
There are many houses in parts of Shillong which are vulnerable to natural calamities. Mapping of such houses is yet to be undertaken by MUDA which gives permission to construct houses.
An official admitted that no survey was conducted by the department to mark vulnerable houses and buildings in the city.
According to sources, it is time that both PWD and MUDA carry out studies on vulnerable buildings in the city and take action as per law.
