MAPUSA
Following the collapse of a newly constructed false ceiling and leakage in the auditorium of Kala Academy (KA), questions have emerged regarding the quality of repair work conducted by the Public Works Department (PWD).
A senior PWD official attributed Monday's debacle to unexpected unseasonal rain, claiming that the sudden thunderstorm inundated the Academy's premises.
Moreover, the official revealed that the PWD has written to the Art and Culture Department, urging them to assume responsibility for the Kala Academy building.
The official, speaking on condition of anonymity, explained that the accumulation of water on the terrace resulted from a large number of tree leaves blocking the outlets, leading to water ingress through the ducts and subsequently causing leakage in the building.
“The unseasonal thunderstorm caught all of us unawares. We were not prepared for that. Large amount of water got accumulated on the terrace on account of tree leaves blocking all the outlets. The clogging of the terrace resulted in water making its way inside the premises,” the senior official told The Goan.
The KA incident occurred early Monday morning after the State experienced unanticipated rainfall over the weekend, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the repair efforts undertaken by the government at the expense of the exchequer.
Regarding the leakage in the Dinanath Mangueshkar auditorium, the senior PWD official attributed it to a malfunctioning AC duct, which has since been repaired.
Despite viral videos suggesting significant water flow, the official maintained that the situation was exacerbated by the sudden downpour for which they were unprepared.
While the PWD conducts repair work on government buildings upon request, the official refrained from commenting on the quality of work at Kala Academy.
However, he emphasised that all works are subject to a maintenance period (warranty) and suggested the appointment of a housekeeping agency for day-to-day maintenance of iconic buildings like Kala Academy.
