Unfit structures pose constant threat to public safety in Kozhikode city
The delay on the part of local administrators in initiating the demolition of structurally unsafe buildings has left over a hundred dilapidated structures posing a
The delay on the part of local administrators in initiating the demolition of structurally unsafe buildings has left over a hundred dilapidated structures posing a major threat to public safety across Kozhikode city. Despite the Kozhikode Corporation’s own engineering wing submitting periodic reports recommending immediate demolition, the administrators’ insistence on waiting for technical clearance from competent authorities has delayed the process. Months after the tragic incident at Valiyangadi, in which the collapse of the sunshade of a Corporation building claimed four lives, no concrete action has been taken to address the issue. The crisis is not confined to public properties, as the fitness of numerous old private buildings also remains unchecked. The recent collapse of the clock tower at the Kozhikode railway station also exposes the glaring negligence in the timely demolition of dangerous old structures.
Many of these old buildings, according to residents, present a deceptive outward appearance, masking severely decayed walls and roofs within. Weak structures are concentrated in highly populated areas around Palayam, Corporation Stadium premises, S.M. Street, Karaparamba, Mavoor Road, Kozhikode beach, and Valiyangadi. While these areas house active commercial establishments, many of the old private residential buildings are reportedly being used as temporary accommodation for migrant workers and rented out with little or no concern for safety. Concerns have intensified over allegations that the Corporation automatically renews trade licences without conducting any serious structural stability assessments. Some landlords, on the other hand, blame non-cooperative tenants, saying that their reluctance to vacate commercial spaces has severely delayed timely maintenance and reconstruction.
“Beyond structural hazards, these abandoned and unmaintained structures have increasingly transformed into dangerous havens for anti-social elements,” says Vinod Kumar, a residents’ association functionary from Mavoor. In the absence of security guards, derelict structures, such as the old Comtrust factory buildings, the abandoned Grasim factory at Mavoor, unguarded old hospital buildings, and properties near the railway station are being routinely used by drug pushers and criminals evading law enforcement, he adds. Police officers heading the ongoing Operation Toofan against drug trafficking have also highlighted how these unguarded sites serve as safe hideouts for illegal activities, while areas like Athanikkal and Puthiyara report that such properties have also become dangerous breeding grounds for snakes. Meanwhile, the Local Self-Government department officials say complicated legal disputes over property rights continue to delay the demolition of derelict buildings.
The BriefWire