346 Lahore buildings declared unsafe ahead of Basant

183 buildings are deemed irreparable, 92 have been evacuated, 163 of the remaining 346 have been declared repairable

LAHORE:

Ahead of Basant, the Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) declared 346 buildings as dangerous in its buildings survey.

The report was submitted after completing a comprehensive survey of dangerous and dilapidated buildings. The authority submitted the report before the Lahore High Court (LHC) in response to the pleas filed challenging permission for Basant celebrations.

According to the WCLA, a total of 346 buildings in the Walled City have been declared dangerous. Of these, 183 buildings have been termed irreparable, while 163 have been declared repairable.

The report states that 92 extremely dangerous and dilapidated buildings have been evacuated so far. However, despite being declared unsafe, 254 buildings remain occupied and cannot be vacated.

Among the occupied buildings, 103 have been declared irreparable and 151 repairable. Out of the evacuated buildings, 80 have been declared fit for demolition, while 12 are considered repairable.

The WCLA further stated that the rooftops of dangerous buildings are unsafe for Basant-related activities. The authority has initiated measures to impose a ban on the use of unsafe rooftops during Basant.

Warning notices and awareness banners are being installed across the Walled City to alert residents. To prevent any untoward incident during the festival, safety measures have been put in place.

The district administration has been requested to seal dangerous rooftops and hazardous portions of buildings, and the report also recommends the deployment of police during Basant to maintain safety and order.