PANJIM: The Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) on Wednesday issued a stop work order to a new private project for alleged damage to the Sankruti Bhavan, which houses the Central Library.
Speaking to Herald, CCP Commissioner Dipak Desai said, “CCP has issued show cause notice to Gera Constructions for alleged damage to Sanskruti Bhavan and the hearing is fixed on March 8 where we have sought a technical report from the builder, which will be tabled before the experts.”
“Today CCP, along with TCP and Panjim MLA, inspected the site and it was found that the retaining wall along with the floor was damaged and with this we have asked them to furnish the details of the construction after which a meeting will be convened in which it will be decided whether to give clearance to the project,” Desai said.
Gera Constructions in the last month and a half has been in the process of laying the foundation for the new building during which cracks started appearing on the retaining wall and the floor of the Sanskruti Bhavan just besides the main pillars.
Reacting to the issue, Gera Developments MD Rohit Gera said, “The construction is currently underway as per the sanctioned plans. It is a possibility that due to some settlement of the soil due to mechanical excavation carried out in our area, some of the displacement or vibrations may have led to the tilting of the compound wall of the Library building and some minor cracks in the driveway pavement.”
He added, “At the site visit by the officials, we were instructed to have our structural engineers meet with the structural engineers of the library building to jointly resolve the issue. This process has been initiated and a meeting is scheduled shortly. We have already communicated our commitment to the authorities to make good any damage to the wall and pavement on this account.”
He said that it was important to note that there is no structural danger to the building.
A student who frequents the library said that cracks have been formed in the library building, and the building was beginning to sink.
