Puri: The Puri district administration has identified 36 dilapidated, deserted and abandoned buildings in the city following concerns over the safety of old structures after incidents of building collapses in Delhi and other parts of the country, District Collector Dibyajyoti Parida said.
The administration has also launched a drive to identify violations of approved building plans in apartment and hotel buildings and has directed owners of structures with minor deviations to undertake necessary repairs, he said.
Parida said the identified structures included the old Cooperative Society building, two deserted hotel buildings and another abandoned structure, all of which were found to be in a completely dilapidated condition.
Besides, 47 dilapidated structures have been identified along the Grand Road (Bada Danda), including 21 hotels that are partially affected, he said.
The administration has permanently sealed 27 buildings and plans to demolish them soon, the Collector said.
The century-old Annapurna Theatre Hall and the 105-year-old Puri Seva Samiti building, among the oldest structures in the city, will also be completely demolished, he said.
Parida said owners of buildings with deviations from approved plans had been directed to carry out necessary repairs and take corrective measures.
However, structures constructed without approved building plans would be dealt with strictly, he added.