State revises norms on makeshift lifts
The state government will bring makeshift lifts under its purview, while ensuring that there are tripartite agreements between the lift companies, developer and housing society for maintenance for 10 years.
According to the current norms, a housing society is responsible for maintenance of its lifts for ten years. The government also announced that only ISO-labelled lifts will be permitted in saleable and rehabilitation buildings from now on. Minister of State for Housing Sachin Ahir was replying to a calling attention on death of six persons when a lift had collapsed in Matunga in January.
While taking a review of the rules and regulations for lifts in buildings, we realised that they were not maintained well. In future, we will ensure that only ISO-certified lifts are installed in buildings, said Ahir.
Six persons had died when a temporary service lift collapsed in a new 22-storey building in Matunga. The six workers were using the lift to come down from the 19th floor when the cable holding it snapped. Work on interior decoration was underway on the 19th, 20th, 21st and 22nd floors of the La Sonrisa Building near Ruia College. The building was certified complete and has an occupation certificate as well.
Ahir also said this was the first time that a developer had been made accused in the case registered for the collapse. He said the government would look into the issue.