The West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner has launched an investigation into today’s collapse of the retaining wall at the new PA Sangma Stadium, though the “initial cause” was given as the heavy rain Tura has been facing of late.
“Additionally, an engineering team from the State Sports Council of Meghalaya is already at the site with the contractors conducting a technical investigation. All debris is being cleared at present and immediate repair works will commence,” a press release from the Department of Sports and Youth Affairs said.
Defending the government from the severe criticism this latest infrastructural embarrassment has brought up, the release, signed by the Commissioner and Secretary added that the design was done by “nationally acclaimed“ agencies taking into consideration all the requirements for hosting national and international matches and executed by
Hindustan Steelworks Construction Ltd, a central government agency.
“The implementation has been carried out incorporating best practices in design, construction supervision, and project management, addressing every requirement of transparency and accountability,” the release claimed. “Further, all technical drawings of the complex, including the retaining wall, have been vetted and verified by experts from reputed national institutions.”
One critic had commented that having such a large complex in the heart of Tura is dangerous but the release said that the site was chosen to make it accessible to the public. And though the release speaks of the Hindustan Steelworks being the implementing agency, sports administrator Gino Sangma had informed that the contractor is Bhadri Rai Constructions (BRC).
The BRC was also sub-contracted to work on the Assembly building by the Uttar Pradesh Rajkiya Nirman Nigam Ltd (UPRNNL) and from the few reports available in the press, it was linked with shoddy and unfinished work in at least three cases in the state.
