As a building forensic analyst and repair specialist I have had the
opportunity to visited cluster of buildings built in the last three decades in
the heart of Mumbai. The oldest cluster of buildings is 30 years old while the
youngest is only 6 years old. It is sad state of affairs if a building needs
extensive repairs within its first 10 years of service-life.
These structures are in such sorry state and need extensive
repairs. Some of the older structures are unsafe to live and need to be
evacuated as soon as possible. One of the structures was a fire station
building, which also housed some firemen families on upper storeys of the
building. These buildings are a part of housing scheme provided by the local
government for families of men serving in the police force and fire
brigade. As I surveyed these
buildings I also spoke to its occupants. Residents had numerous complaints about the status of the
building, some of which were self-evidentiary while others had to be pointed
out. Plumbing leakages through kitchen
walls, chunks of concrete falling off slabs, corroding steel exposed from slabs
and columns. One of the worst things to hear was about constant water dripping
from upper storey bathrooms in to those living below effectively nullifying the
purpose of having a bath for those living below. Families of serving officials
living in such squalor was heart wrenching. None of us can live in such
conditions and to expect people to live in such conditions and also do their
duty protecting you is a crime.
The agency in charge of maintenance claims that
there aren’t sufficient funds to do the maintenance. Closer inspection of
premises reveals to me that buildings are in dilapidated conditions due to low
quality control and usage of cheap construction designs and practices. I am
told since the housing was meant for lower rung officers and havaldars (read
low income) low cost was maintained. Does low costing also mean low quality?
Not necessarily. This is not just about corruption and reducing cost but also
about how we perceive living standards for different sections of society. If
the fire brigade does not turn up on time we are quick to call on their
lacksidal attitude. Yesterday, as I left the premises there wasn’t much joy of
having an assignment on my hands but a series of thoughts on how our
perceptions of things based on economic class structure.