In the wake of the tragic incident that claimed the lives of three IAS aspirants due to waterlogging in the basement library of Rau’s IAS Study Circle, Delhi civic authorities have initiated a crackdown on coaching institutes flouting regulations. Drishti IAS head Vikas Divyakirti has highlighted the complexity of the issue, pointing out contradictions and inconsistencies within the rules enforced by the DDA, MCD, and Delhi Fire Department.
Following the sealing of basements belonging to several coaching institutes, including Drishti IAS, Vikas Divyakirti expressed understanding for the students’ anger and emphasized the need for clear guidelines for coaching institutes. He stated, “The anger that is being seen among the students regarding this accident is completely justified. It would be great if this anger gets a proper direction and the government implements definite guidelines for coaching institutes. We look forward to actively cooperating with the government in this regard.”
Divyakirti further elaborated on the complexities surrounding coaching institutes, stating, “This problem related to coaching institutes is not as simple as it appears on the surface. It has many aspects which are linked to the ambiguity and contradictions of the laws. There is inconsistency in the rules of DDA, MCD and Delhi Fire Department. Similarly, there is a lot of contradiction in the provisions of ‘Delhi Masterplan-2021’, ‘National Building Code’, ‘Delhi Fire Rules’ and ‘Unified Building By-Laws.’”
He highlighted that, apart from the ‘Delhi Masterplan-2021’, no other document explicitly outlines provisions for coaching institutes. Divyakirti asserted that Team Drishti prioritizes student safety and takes a cautious approach. The crackdown has targeted prominent coaching institutes like Drishti (The Vision) as well.
In a related development, the civic body conducted an anti-encroachment drive in Old Rajindra Nagar to demolish structures obstructing storm drains, which contributed to the flooding. Officials reported that 20 basements of coaching centers in Rajendra Nagar and Mukherjee Nagar, illegally used for libraries or classes, have been sealed. This incident underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive review of regulations governing coaching institutes and the implementation of robust safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
