Maharashtra: Opposition seeks immediate discussion in House on building collapse

Mumbai: The building collapse in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area echoed in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday with the opposition forcing three adjournments while demanding an immediate discussion over the incident.

The residential building collapsed in Ghatkopar yesterday, killing 17 people.

The opposition demanded an immediate discussion and a statement from the government over the accident on the floor of the House.
The government, however, proposed to hold the discussion later in the afternoon.

Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, said, "During the earlier Congress-NCP government, there were two instances when the demand of the then opposition parties - BJP and Shiv Sena - to hold discussions on some calamity was accepted. We held detailed discussions."

"Now, the BJP-Shiv Sena are in power but they are not willing to hold a discussion immediately. What is the reason behind the delay in making a statement on the floor of the House over the Ghatkopar incident?" Vikhe Patil asked.

Responding to his question, Maharashtra's Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar said, "The state government understands the gravity of the accident. Hence, Chief Minister (Devendra) Fadnavis himself went to the spot last night."

"We have asked the officials concerned to provide all details about the deaths and the injured persons in the building collapse case," he said.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Girish Bapat said, "The state government is willing to make a statement followed by discussion on the issue at 4 pm. If the opposition accepts the proposal, we can do so."
However, opposition parties refused to accept the suggestion and stuck to the demand for an immediate discussion over the incident.

Amid the din, the chair adjourned the House twice for 10 minutes each and then for another 15 minutes.

The death toll in the accident today rose to 17 after five more bodies were pulled out from the rubble of the four- storey building during overnight search and rescue operations.
A Shiv Sena worker has been arrested in connection with the building collapse.

The chief minister visited the collapse site last night and said he has directed the commissioner of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to investigate the accident and submit a report within 15 days.