FUMES OF FURY
>> This move by the TCP is in complete violation of the Architects Act 1972,says chairperson of the Goa chapter of the IIA
>> Giving design powers to supervisors is highly questionable against the safety and design of buildings, it said
>> The architects feel that allowing site supervisors to make changes to structures, would destroy aesthetics of a building
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PANAJI: Raising concerns over the Town and Country Planning (TCP) department giving site supervisors 'architectural design' powers, which are equivalent to the powers of an architect, the Goa chapter of the Indian Institute of Architects (IIA) has submitted a written complaint to the TCP on March 1.
This move by the TCP is in "complete violation of the Architects Act 1972,"said Manguesh Prabhugaonkar, chairperson of the Goa chapter of the IIA. Prabhugaonkar also raised safety concerns over the same saying, "Giving design powers to supervisors is highly questionable against the safety and design of buildings." He says the same needs to be rectified immediately and site supervisers' duties need to be reverted and "restricted only up to powers of supervision on (the) construction site."
The TCP has given site supervisers these powers through an amendment to the TCP Act notified on December 27 in the official gazette. The following are the objections raised by the IIA :
They say that the amendment should not be included in the Act, as with this amendment, a person with an engineering diploma with two years of experience cannot be allowed to have the same powers as an architect.
Further, the architects feel that allowing site supervisors, who have no training, to make changes to structures, would destroy the aesthetics of a building. "One side we're talking about maintaining our heritage and "goekarponn", and this new notification is in direct contrast to that," Prabhugaonkar told "The Goan."
The letter also states that the TCP should be taking initiatives to enhance prevailing and emerging architectural typologies, the changing skyline which is being impacted because of urbanisation, the transformation of our towns with increasing densities, architectural heritage and its conservation, safety and stability of structures.
Besides this, the letter asks that the TCP have a better understanding of art, humanities, science and technology with reference to architecture and planning, of environmental and ecological strategies, of socio“economic frameworks of growth trends, and lastly, the significance of art and architecture.
"All (the) above needs a sensitive approach in terms of architecture and planning. The state of Goa needs to respect professionals in this matter by involving professionally trained architects and not supervisors," states the letter.
