In the wake of the tragic incident, Rau’s IAS Study Circle in Delhi’s Rajinder Nagar has sent shockwaves across the nation, exposing severe regulatory lapses and negligence that led to the untimely deaths of three young civil service aspirants. Delhi Lieutenant Governor (LG) VK Saxena has come down heavily due to lack of inaction from the AAP Government following the drainage issues.
Earlier, Office of Delhi LG VK Saxena had convened a meeting in April to discuss issues related to drainage and desilting, which allegedly saw poor attendance from concerned ministers. This meeting was intended to address long-standing issues that contributed to the flooding, but the lack of participation from key officials indicates a severe lapse in administrative accountability.
A file of a proposed comprehensive plan for desilting of drains in Delhi had been pending with Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj for months, based on its sources. The comprehensive plan was prepared by a three-member committee including, the MCD commissioner, PWD principal secretary and Delhi Jal Board (DJB) CEO. However, Saurabh Bharadwaj had claimed that the file had been approved on April 29 this year and was to be implemented after Monsoon. This revelation comes in the wake of three IAS aspirants’ death in the basement of a coaching institute in Old Rajinder Nagar on Saturday due to rainwater flooding.
On August 8, 2023. the proposal was put up with the joint signature of all three officers to the Chief Secretary. Later, the proposal was sent to CM Arvind Kejriwal and Bharadwaj on August 21, 2023. The sources said that Bharadwaj sent the file back to the Principal Secretary (Irrigation and Flood Control) after five months asking for a meeting of all stakeholders and a presentation. On April 8, 2024, the file was again sent to the minister and the proposal has been pending since then.
AAP Minister Saurabh Bharadwaj has pointed fingers at the LG, accusing him of ignoring evidence and complaints about corruption in desilting operations. Bharadwaj claims that despite multiple correspondences and a comprehensive plan prepared by a three-member committee in August 2023, no significant action was taken. The plan, which was intended to streamline the management of 18 main drains under a unified authority, remained stuck in bureaucratic limbo, highlighting a systemic failure in addressing the city’s drainage issues.
The LG’s office has countered these claims by stating that the AAP Government had the authority and responsibility to implement desilting projects and ensure safety standards in the city. They accused the AAP government of not taking timely action despite clear warnings and available plans for desilting and flood management. This political tussle has overshadowed the urgent need for solutions and accountability in the wake of the tragedy.
Following the deaths of the three students, the Delhi Police arrested the owner and coordinator of the coaching institute. The incident has brought to light the urgent need for stricter enforcement of safety regulations and better coordination among various governmental departments to prevent such tragedies in the future. The victims’ families and the student community continue to demand justice and accountability, as the debate over the responsibility for the incident rages on.
The victims, Shreya Yadav from Uttar Pradesh, Tanya Soni from Telangana, and Navin Dalwin from Kerala, were trapped in the basement of the coaching institute during a deluge following heavy rains, raising serious questions about the safety standards and regulatory oversight of educational institutions in the capital.
The ill-fated coaching centre was found to be using its basement as a library, contrary to the civic authorities’ stipulation that it should only be used for storage. This blatant disregard for safety norms highlights the rampant violations prevalent across several coaching centres in Delhi. Despite receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC) earlier this month, the basement was ill-prepared to handle emergencies, lacking essential drainage facilities and having only one entry and exit point. The Unified Building Bye-Laws for Delhi, 2016, clearly state that basements can be used for study purposes only if they meet stringent fire safety requirements. Rau’s IAS Study Circle’s failure to adhere to these regulations directly contributed to the fatal consequences of the flooding.
This tragic incident is not an isolated one. A status report submitted by the Delhi Police to the Delhi High Court revealed that out of 583 coaching institutes operating in Delhi, only 67 have fire safety certificates. This alarming statistic underscores the widespread non-compliance with safety regulations, putting thousands of students at risk. The high concentration of coaching centres in areas like Rajinder Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar, which attract students from across the country, exacerbates the potential for such tragedies.
The incident has sparked widespread protests among students, who accuse local authorities of severe negligence in enforcing safety standards.
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