TEAM HERALD
OLD GOA: Taking cognisance of the news reports and photographs appearing in the section of the media regarding the infrastructure of Lusofonia Games stadiums, particularly the Bambolim athletics stadium, SAG Executive Director Sandip Jacques took strong exception to the word “crumbling” used in the reports and the photographs which gives a wrong impression to the general public that the infrastructure has already started crumbling on its own.
Clarifying on the work carried out on the staircase at athletics stadium, Jacques stated that SAG had noticed some snags in the work undertaken by the contractor and directed the contractor to carry out the repair work as per the specifications.
“This work could not be undertaken before, as the Games were nearing and it would not have been possible to complete the work in time for the Games,” Jacques stated while informing that the contractor was asked to rectify the problem after the Games concluded.
He informed that the contractor, as per SAG direction, started work on the steps and local dailies reported about the stadium barely a few days after the Games concluded, without getting any clarification from the SAG officials.
However, when the Herald made efforts to contact Jacques for his views on information with regards to the issues related to SAG, including the Bambolim athletics stadium had been in vain, though his cellphone rang but there was no reply.
“We had taken over all the stadiums for Lusofonia Games only for operational purpose, and these stadiums have been handed back to the contractors to rectify all the snags that have been observed by SAG officials,” Jacques clarified while stating that a snag list has been prepared and submitted to the contractors for rectification.
“All the works that are being undertaken at the stadiums are done at the directives of the SAG,” Jacques further said and informed that the SAG has not compromised on the quality of work and quality of material used.
“We have not released money to the contractor without testing the material in an independent laboratory,” Jacques mentioned.
“A defect liability period of 18 months after the stadiums are handed over is also in place,” Jacques stated and informed that if anything happens, the contractor is liable for the same.
“We will not take possession of the stadiums until and unless we are satisfied with the quality of the work undertaken,” he informed and stated that it should take another month or two to complete the stadiums in all respect.
Further, Jacques stated that SAG is planning to have an independent audit of the stadiums to highlight any further snags.
When questioned on the cracks that have appeared where the seats are installed, Assistant Engineer Nitin Neurekar clarified that these cannot be called as cracks.
“For anything to be called a crack, it has to be atleast 3 mm wide,” he informed and added that these ‘cracks’ can be termed as “baseline or shrinkage cracks” occurred due to shrinkage of concrete or due to variation of temperature, which is experienced in Goa.
“Such ‘cracks’ would not have appeared in European countries, where the temperature is mostly constant,” he further added.
On reports in the local dailies that bubbling is taking place on the athletics track, Jacques agreed that the problem of bubbling was noticed initially when the track was complete, along a 25-metre stretch.
“However, before the start of the Games, that portion of the track was re-laid and bubbling does not occur now,” Jacques informed and stated that the track has got Class II Certification from the IAAF while displaying the certificate for the same.
“There is a 7-year guarantee for the track and if anything happens, Rekortan will be held liable,” he further informed.
We had taken over all the stadiums for Lusofonia Games only for operational purpose, and these stadiums have been handed back to the contractors to rectify all the snags that have been observed by SAG officials
