The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) began cracking down on illegal coaching centres in the city on the heels of the death of three IAS aspirants after the basement of their coaching centre got flooded. The officials said they sealed 13 illegally-run basements of coaching centres on Sunday in the Old Rajendra Nagar area.
These included IAS Gurukul, Chahal Academy, Plutus Academy, Sai Trading, IAS Setu, Topper's Academy, Dainik Samvad, Civils Daily IAS, Career Power, 99 Notes, Vidya Guru, Guidance IAS, and Easy for IAS.
The MCD will also set up a high-level committee to probe the flooding of a basement in Rau's Study Circle coaching centre where the students died on Saturday.
Tariq Thomas, additional commissioner, MCD said the drive began on Sunday evening. "Three basements (coaching centres running in the basement) have been closed and we will take further action in the coming days. The government has ordered an inquiry," he said. The Delhi government also issued a statement approving the action.
The MCD recently conducted a survey of coaching centres flouting norms after a massive fire incident at an institute in Mukharjee Nagar, another coaching hub in north Delhi. The survey will be used to identify those flouting norms.
Meanwhile, the students continued their protest in the early hours of Monday seeking justice and appropriate action from the government. The protesters sought strict action against every government authority responsible for the disaster. They also sought steps to prevent further water logging in the area.
#WATCH | Old Rajinder Nagar incident | Delhi: Students sit and protest in Old Rajinder Nagar against the death of 3 students after the basement of their coaching institute here was flooded with rainwater yesterday. pic.twitter.com/b1VTlROiqZ
— ANI (@ANI) July 28, 2024
The students have also demanded action against coaching centres and landowners who run libraries and classes in basements. Besides, they have also demanded a rent regulation bill or some code of rent regulation to control irrational rent and brokerage, an insurance cover in every coaching and in such libraries against any mishap and a grievance redressal mechanism for students from coaching sites for any irregularities.