India, April 20 -- The collapse of a four-storey building in Mustafabad that left 11 dead on Saturday has again shone the spotlight on the lack of structural safety in mushrooming multi-storey buildings in Delhi's unauthorised colonies. A lack of adherence to safety codes, lax enforcement and protection under special laws are the key problems, experts said.

Experts and stakeholders pointed out that the National Capital Territory of Delhi Laws (Special Provisions) was initially brought in 2006 for just a year to protect unauthorised colonies from punitive sealing and demolition. However, it has since seen multiple extensions through ordinances and laws enacted from time to time - the latest of which protects buildings built before 2014 ti...