Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 04:
After an inspection today, Democratic Students' Alliance of Manipur (DESAM) has expressed serious concern over lack of quality control and non-conformity with norms in construction of the building sat Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School located at Uripok.
The construction of the buildings at the school is being taken up for physical upgradation under the funding of Additional Central Assistance (ACA).
The total estimated cost of the project is said to be Rs 1,71,18,570 .
Talking to mediapersons after the inspection, education secretary of DESAM Arambam Thoithoi informed that inspection on construction works being taken up at Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School was carried out along with engineers today as part of monitoring the physical upgradation works in 15 higher secondary schools.
However, lack of quality control in the execution of work of most of the buildings, leaking of the roofs, construction of library and science block on top in nonconformity with norms and incompletion of some class rooms have been detected.
Recounting the recent incident in which a student was grievously injured when a portion of the building of Lilong Higher Secondary School collapsed due to lack of quality control, Thoithoi suggested that construction work on the library and science block of the Ibotonsana Higher Secondary School at the top floor in non-conformity should be stopped at once until the matter has been looked into by an expert committee.
However, in case cracks started appearing or the building collapsed after the expert committee gave its nod on going ahead with the construction work ruling that there is no problem, then the expert committee should be held responsible for any eventuality, Thoithoi stated categorically.
As to the incompletion of some class rooms and leakage of the roof, Thoithoi demanded that construction of the class rooms should be completed and the roof repaired within a month's time.
If the contractors concerned are not being able to maintain the quality of the work, then they should quit so that some others who can do so may take over the work, Thoithoi said, while appealing to the Ministers, Engineers and UG groups alike to stop demanding percentage cut from developmental works.