NBCC refuses to share blueprints
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, April 19 2016:
Although the two Ima market complexes of Khwairamband Keithel which were damaged by the earthquake of January 4 this year require either complete re-construction or repairing, the NBCC which constructed the market complexes is refusing to share copies of the market complexes' structural drawing designs and working drawings.
According to information received from the State PWD, the State Government has asked IIT Guwahati to determine whether the damaged market complexes should be re-constructed or repaired.
Though it is still unofficial, IIT Guwahati has agreed to take over the market complexes.
IIT Guwahati has given the list of things it would do but it is yet to decide whether it would carry out a seismic safety analysis of the damaged market complexes' whole structure.
Seismic safety analysis would find out whether the market complexes are lacking in strength.
If the strength is found lacking, IIT Guwahati would take a decision whe-ther the market complexes can be strengthened by repairing or whether they should be constructed anew.
At present, it is being studied to strengthen different components of the buildings, dismantle certain portions and re-construct the dismantled portions.
Apart from giving suggestions about what should be done regarding the damaged buildings, IIT Guwahati would also provide a working drawing.
Re-construction/repairing work would also be monitored by IIT Guwahati as a third party.
For seismic safety analysis, IIT Guwahati should have access to architectural structural drawings and working drawings of the market complexes.
But when NBCC was approached to give copies of the structural design drawings and working drawings, they maintained that no such copies are available with them.