UPSC Mains 2017 · GS IV · Q13 · 20 marks · 250 words · Case study

A building permitted for three floors, while being extended illegally to 6 floors by a builder, collapses. As a consequence, a number of innocent labourers including women and children died. These labourers are migrants of different places. The government immediately announced cash relief to the aggrieved families and arrested the builder.

Give reasons for such incidents taking place across the country. Suggest measures to prevent their occurrence.

हिन्दी में

एक मकान जिसे तीन मंज़िल बनाने की अनुमति मिली थी, उसे अवैध रूप से निर्माणकर्ता द्वारा छः मंज़िला बनाया जा रहा था और वह ढह गया । इसके कारण कई निर्दोष मज़दूर जिनमें महिलाएँ व बच्चे भी शामिल थे, मारे गए । ये सब मज़दूर भिन्न-भिन्न स्थानों से आए हुए थे । सरकार द्वारा तुरंत मृतक परिवारों को नकद-मुआवज़ा घोषित किया गया और निर्माणकर्ता को गिरफ़्तार कर लिया गया ।

देश में होने वाली इस प्रकार की घटनाओं के कारण बताइए । इस प्रकार की घटनाओं को रोकने के लिए अपने सुझाव दीजिए ।

Corruption Accountability and Ethical Governance

How a topper answered the closest question

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “A building located in a clustered urban locality caught fire. The Fire subsequently got spread to a restaurant in the vicinity. A birthday was party going on in the restaurant. As a consequence, a number of people including women and children died. The government immediately announced cash relief to the aggrieved families and arrested the builder. Give reasons for such incidents taking place across the country. Suggest measures to prevent their occurrence.”

K Varun Reddy369 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · no separate opening

None written.

Body · points and prose

Subject matter :- Illegal constructions in densely populated urban localities, violating safety norms and their dangers.

Stakeholders	Facts related	values Involved

Diagram

* Central node: Stakeholders * builders * residents * government regulation * society at large

| • Recent study, most buildings violate building code norms in cities • Threat to safety of lives | • Rule of law • Integrity • value for life • safety • Transparency |

(a) Reasons for incidents

(a) Attitude to make easy money (Greed) • builders reduce cost of construction by not following norms e.g fire safety norms • Increase floors from legally permitted 3 to 4, 5 → thus making they unstable e.g Mumbai building collapse

(b) Poor awareness among residents, labourers

About building codes, safety norms
partly responsible as they have moral obligation and citizenship duty to know in the flat they are purchasing

Municipal bodies are understaffed, underfunded
Lack of willingness, sincerity to regulate
police too - let go illegal constructions by taking bribes (corruption, self interest at the cost of public interest)

(d) nexus between builders, politicians and bureaucrats (e) large moral decay in the society could be blamed for societal acceptance, lack of whistle blowing, apathy to such illegal constructions

Effective measures

(a) "Commerce without morality" is a sin by Gandhiji; should be mantra for builders

safety of residents not greed for money should guide constructions and must be held accountable for such fire accidents

(b) Awareness among people and promoting a culture of vigilance and responsibility and safety

When people are pro-active such incidents will not occur.

fixing accountability to officers and disciplinary action if illegal construction found

(d) Increase transparency using RERA act; technology in regulation; compliance disclosure online

• to break nexus of builders, politicians and bureaucrats.

e) Lastly, Ethical leadership from all walks in life - be it politics, doctors etc to promote moral behaviour in our society

Close · a framework

Thus by improving awareness, regulation and moral responsibility we can promote a culture of safety and resilience to our urbanisation. And promote sustainable urbanisation in the country (SDG-11 goals).

How toppers approach this question, and more on its topic: open the question.

Toppers’ answers to other close questions

Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Main) Examination 2017, General Studies Paper IV, Q13. The paper on upsc.gov.in. Themes and links to toppers’ answers are by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.