News

Volume 4 Issue 13 - July 01, 2006

Loopholes in the proposed Delhi Building Bylaws

D.N.I.S. News Network – The New Delhi Building Bylaws are at present under public review and Svayam, a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the Jindal group aimed to promote self reliance amongst people with disabilities, has found that the bylaws are faulty, with numerous loopholes pertaining to accessibility.

Accessibility has been incorporated in the Bylaws and it clearly states that “All buildings shall provide adequate access to persons with disabilities.” But there are genuine concerns regarding certain points that are contradictory in the document.

The three major points in the Accessibility clause of the proposed Bylaws are:

1.      Enabling access for disabled people shall conform to the standards published by the Office of the Chief Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities (C.C.P.D.), Government of India, in a manner that the architect deems necessary.

Concern: The Office of the C.C.P.D. does not have any such standards.

2.      Accessibility Report prepared by the architect shall be submitted along with the application for building permit using the format to be determined by the Office of the C.C.P.D.

Concern: The Office of the C.C.P.D. does not have any such format.

3.      The Office of the C.C.P.D. is expected to certify the architects competent to make the Accessibility Report.

Concern: The role of the Office of the C.C.P.D. is to look into matters relating to implementation of the Disability Act, 1995, and not to certify architects for their eligibility.