Against the backdrop of building collapse incidents, Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu today favoured incorporating in law provisions which hold the officials concerned responsible when such accidents happen due to their negligence.

The Minister termed as “a sad commentary on our urban planning” the incidents of building collapse in Delhi and Chennai.

“I strongly feel that how we can incorporate in law that people like the building inspector, the local town planner, the area incharge, should be made responsible and accountable if something happens in their tenure,” Naidu said at a conclave here where ministers from various states were present.

He also emphasised that no official should be held responsible if any such incident happens after his tenure ends, but stressed that accountability should be fixed.

“You can’t hold the official responsible for something which has happened earlier. Let us make a beginning. Let us incorporate in our municipal laws that there will be an accountability factor, this is very much required,” he said.

Talking about the media role in such incidents, the Union minister said, “Whenever there is a building collapse incident, media highlights it, then there is concern and some good, well meaning, dynamic officer comes in and orders demolitions.

“After this there is hue and cry, again the focus of media, then the exercise is stopped.”

Naidu’s comments came in the backdrop of the recent incident of building collapse in Chennai, where 53 people have died and in Delhi, in which ten people lost their lives.

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