PANJIM: The State government is considering closing down the Dona Paula jetty as it is in deep distress. The reinforcing steel bars in the structure stand exposed and are corroding posing a threat to hundreds of locals as well as tourists who visit the magnificent spot.
The Dona Paula jetty, also known as ‘Lover’s Paradise’ today stands neglected. The railings have corroded and are broken in many places, posing a threat to visitors. The electrical lamps, too, have stopped functioning.
North Goa Collector Nila Mohanan confirmed the development to Herald and said, “We have received a report from the Managing Director of Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Ltd (IPSCDL) on the Dona-Paula jetty, based on that we scheduled a formal meeting either tomorrow (Tuesday) or day after along with CCP, the Captain of Ports (CoP) in which the matter will be discussed and accordingly the decision will be taken.”
Mohanan added, “We also have to discuss with CCP about the vendors at the jetty. We had received the report from IPSCDL when I was on a trip to New Delhi and that is the reason I cannot comment on what are the structural issues related to the jetty. Once the meeting is conducted I will be in a position to give exact details.”
The old Dona Paula jetty, which still exists next to the new one and acts as a breakwater, protecting the new jetty from the powerful waves, may be said to be in a better condition. GSIDC in April 2015 has more or less confirmed the condition of the jetty by ordering a Non-Destructive Test (NDT) on the jetty.
The NDT was cleverly phrased as a “structural audit of the Dona Paula jetty to ascertain its carrying capacity” by GSIDC so as not to alarm the citizens.
GSIDC’s former Managing Director Sanjit Rodrigues had told Herald at that time that GSIDC wanted to ascertain the “strength” of the jetty, i.e, the structure’s capacity to carry benches, hawkers, shops, restaurants, etc. The audit, he claimed, would help to contribute to Panjim’s master plan. But an NDT was very much part of the scope of the study.
Not surprisingly, the test report was kept top secret. According to the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) ‘Manual on Repair and Rehabilitation of RCC Buildings’, exposed steel rapidly corrodes and expands to 10 times its size, cracking the concrete around it and allowing permeability of atmospheric gases. This facilitates further and more rapid corrosion, especially in a chloride-rich marine environment.
Accelerated corrosion causes even greater cracking and then ‘spalling’ of concrete, exposing large sections of the steel reinforcement to the atmosphere. The process results in thinning of the steel reinforcement, ultimately leading to the possible collapse of the structure.
