<b>Demolish dangerous buildings, say Ahmedabad's residents

Demolish dangerous buildings, say Ahmedabad's residents Thursday, April 26, 2001

THE newly developed Rani Jhansi Park in the upmarket Satellite area looks like a campsite. Parents are sitting and children playing in the open. But it is no picnic.

They are among a large number of families who have been living virtually without a roof over their heads since the January 26 earthquake devastated Gujarat, leaving some 25,000 people dead.

The quake flattened entire towns and villages and rendered tens of thousands homeless across the state. Many of the victims are still struggling to get back what they had always taken for granted -- shelter.

These are summer months, and the heat can be scorching in this part of India. The busiest of roads look deserted during the day because people prefer to stay within the cooler confines of their homes and offices.

Those residing at the Rani Jhansi Park are former residents of the high-rise Shikhar Complex, a part of which crashed in the quake, killing 98 residents. To the survivors, it is a do or die situation.

"It is better to die of sunstroke than to live in an apartment block you don't know when will crash," says Viren Shah.

"The pillars, the walls and the staircase are all damaged. There are huge cracks. Any extra weight or a small shake-up, and the building will come crashing down," he says. "And the government says it is repairable!"

"The state government has played a cruel joke with us. First it said these blocks are not liveable and now it says they can be repaired. The quake demolished our houses, now our protests will demolish the government," adds Muktaben Patel, another Shikhar Complex resident.

Shah tries to pacify Patel, but adds: "Even if the government gets the remaining portions of the complex repaired, none of us is going to live in it."

Shikhar residents are angry that the High Court, based on an official report on the condition of 17 badly damaged buildings, ruled that Shikhar blocks could be repaired and people could move back into them.

Those camping at the park are questioning the validity of the report prepared by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority. But some say if experts find nothing wrong with the basic structure of the building, then it is better to repair them rather than raze them.

Mukul Desai, who lives in the upscale Sangemarmar Apartments, says the basic structure of the building is safe. "I can tell you this as I am a civil engineer by training," he says. Eleven people died when the building's marble facade collapsed.

In contrast, Himgiri Apartment residents want their building demolished. "Almost all occupants are for demolition of the blocks," says Viraj Modi, who has an apartment on the fourth floor. The quake killed 17 people in the apartment.

Akshardeep Apartment residents are angry with the government. "The government doesn't want to pay us Rs.175,000 as part of the relief package announced. That is why it says the building can be repaired," said resident Dilip Gondaliya.

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