With questions being raised over Rau’s coaching centre running its library illegally in the basement which led to the death of three IAS aspirants, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) launched a sealing drive in Delhi’s Mukherjee Nagar and old Rajinder nagar, a hub of UPSC coaching centres in the national Capital. The civic body also suspended Junior Engineer along with the Assistant Engineer and Tent Engineer, who have been terminated.
This comes two days after three civil services aspirants died after a library housed illegally in the basement of their coaching centre, Rau’s IAS Study Circle, in central Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar got inundated following heavy rain, and reportedly led to the failure of the single biometric entry and exit point.
In a crackdown , the MCD sealed more than a dozen coaching centres including Drishti IAS coaching centre, a popular destination for civil services aspirants in Mukherjee Nagar. The body put new locks on its doors and a stamped paper at the entrance instructing the office to contact city authorities. Officials stated that the basement classes were illegal and consequently, five rooms were sealed.
“Action is being taken against establishments illegally using basements in the area,” an MCD official said, adding that a similar drive will later be carried out across the city against establishments operating illegally from basements.
Other centres sealed in the old Rajinder nagar include IAS Gurukul, Chahal Academy, Plutus academy, Sai trading, IAS setu, Topper’s academy, Dainik samwad, Civil’s daily IAS, Career Power, 99 notes, Vidya Guru, Guidance IAS and Eassy for IAS. Rau’s IAS Study Circle, where the three students died on Saturday, has already been sealed by police.
A UPSC aspirant studying at one of the coaching centres in Mukherjee Nagar said libraries at most of the centres have been closed after the Saturday incident. “I have to appear for UPSC Mains in one and a half months and the library at my centre has been closed. My books and all the preparation material are inside the library and now I am not allowed to collect my books,” the student said.
“We got a message on Sunday night, saying we should collect our books, etc from the library by 6 am today. I was sleeping so how was I supposed to collect them by morning. Most students here are preparing for UPSC Mains,” the student added.
Meanwhile, the Delhi Police has written to the MCD seeking status of de-silting of drains near the Rajinder Nagar coaching centre, which was flooded Saturday evening. Police have sought details if any complaint was given against the coaching institute to the civic agency or not. And if the complaint was given, what actions were taken by them.
Due to Rajinder Nagar tragedy, the MCD’s House meeting witnessed stormy session as the councillors trooped into the well of the house, demanding resignation of the mayor Dr Shelly Oberoi and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over the incident. The BJP and Congress councillors also raised slogans and carried posters against the AAP-led Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Amid the ruckus, the mayor adjourned the House even before it could begin and left the House.
After the adjournment, BJP councillors staged a protest on the fourth floor of the agency headquarters, demanding the mayor to resume the House. A heavy deployment of police force was seen at the Civic Centre at the agency headquarters.
The mayor also called an emergency meeting with the MCD commissioner, Chief Executive Office of Delhi Jal Board (DJB) and Principal Secretary of Public Works Department (PWD).
