Challenges push demolition deadline further

Officials and ministers had put a deadline of three days for the demolition of the gutted Chennai Silks building in T-Nagar. However, the task, which began on June 2, will go on for much longer. 

“The jaw-cutter machine, which could reach a height of 26 metres, couldn’t reach the top of the building, which is 31 metres. The top shed of the building is 25 feet and there was a cooling plant for the centralised air conditioning system. We were not told about this and there was no building plan given to us. In addition, the building has no setback area. 

The demolition work proceeded slowly as we didn’t want the debris to damage the other buildings,” said Peer Mohammed, Proprietor of Parveen Traders, which oversees the demolition. At least 40% of the building was demolished by June 4, said Mohammed. 

“The demolition began in full swing on June 3, before which a ramp was created to reach the top of the building. We had asked for six days to complete the task and we are sure it will be done in the next few days,” he added. 

In the early hours of May 31, a massive fire broke out in the basement of the seven-storey building. The heat had resulted in cross-sections of the building collapsing, when the government had taken a call to demolish it. It had come to light that the 7-storey structure didn’t have building clearance for top four floors and there were no fire safety features installed.