Accumulating water threatened overhead structure: Prabhudessai
FRANCIS RIBEIRO
PANJIM: The pre-monsoon showers may have come as a welcome relief from the searing heat for all Goans but for Goa’s sports ministry it has only added to their woes.
The 4 month old state-of-art Bambolim Athletic stadium roofing sheets were found missing and rumors were rife that the PTC sheets were blown away by the pre-monsoons.
When Herald headed to Bambolim to gauge the extent of damage and the cause entry was denied. And this are just the pre-monsoons. With roofing sheets missing, one wonders what’s next when the monsoons is in full flow.
Manuel Samuels, Secretary Sports pointed out that he was not briefed about the situation and would take immediate stock of the situation. He however pointed out the Bambolim athletic complex has not been taken over by the Sports Authority of Goa and that all works are covered under warranty.
When Herald sought an explanation from V M Prabhudessai with regards to the missing PTC roofing sheets, he disclosed that the sheets were dismantled and lowered as a precautionary measure.
When informed that the need for precautionary measures does not arise as SAG is not in possession of the stadium, and since the roofing is under warranty, any catastrophe is the responsibility of the contractor M/S.Simplex Project Ltd, New Delhi,Prabhudessai revealed that water had began accumulating and was threatening the entire overhead structure due to massive load pressure building up. “The contractor was summoned and the work is being rectified”.
Chief Engineer Chimulkar who supervised the construction work told Herald a random check to the venue revealed the impending danger. “As you know the work was done in a hurry in order that the Lusofonia Games could be held. All the remaining sheets will be lowered tomorrow and the anomaly will be rectified. We will not let Simplex off easily,” he said.
It is also learnt that the prestigious synthetic track which saw the Indian Youth Nationals being held recently has been considerably affected. Manuel Samuels said he would do a proper recce of the stadium tomorrow.
It may be recalled that Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) had refused to take possession of the Athletics Stadium in Bambolim after complaints that the stadium was showing signs of deterioration.
The stadium — constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 63 crore — was inaugurated on January 18, the day Lusofonia Games 2014 started. But a week after the conclusion of the Games, Herald had exposed that the steps of the stadium had crumbled and several cracks had surfaced.
A select team from the Lusofonia Games organizing committee had inspected the stadium and were appalled to see the stadium in a poor condition.
In a confidential report filed by Lusofonia Games competitions manager (Athletics) Tony Daniels, had stated that “the material used for the construction seemed to be substandard.”
