Probe house collapse, protect buyers' rights

The authorities and real estate developers should come under investigation for the Shanghai building collapse. And this should be a lesson to us if we want to protect consumers' rights, says an article in Chongqing Times. Excerpt:

A 13-story under-construction building collapsed in Minhang district of Shanghai on June 27, killing one worker.

Immediately a Beijing-based expert blamed geological factors for the collapse. He didn't even wait for a proper investigation to be conducted.

Even if geological factors are to blame, it cannot be denied that the real estate developer and supervisor are also responsible for the collapse. It is unforgivable for them to have ignored potential "geological" risks before starting work on such a huge project.

The developer and builder, directly in charge of construction, have a lot of explaining to do to the public. The damage caused to the flood-prevention wall, over-excavation of soil for an underground garage, and the shallow foundation could be responsible for the collapse. But the developer and builder are still maintaining a silence.

People nowadays seem to be more worried about housing prices than quality. Hence, it is incumbent on the authorities to prevent developers from cutting corners, and guarantee the safety of the public.

(China Daily 06/30/2009 page9)