MARGAO
Strong cyclonic winds blew away the metal roof sheets of the west stand of the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Fatorda on Sunday night causing the destruction of property pegged at around Rs 20 lakh.
This is not the first time that Fatorda stadium's metal roof sheets have blown away. In 2019, too, strong cyclonic winds had blown away the sheets causing a loss of Rs 15-20 lakh.
The incident now brings to the fore the quality of work being done while installing the metal sheets.
Fortunately, no one was injured nor any vehicle damaged in the incident as a few metals sheets flew and landed inside the stadium while others were strewn inside the complex.
The incident is believed to have occurred around 9.45 pm when the metal roof sheets were blown away by the strong winds.
Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) officials informed that scores of metal sheets were blown away by the strong winds, causing a huge loss to the exchequer to the tune of around Rs 15-20 lakh.
Executive Engineer, Deepak Lotlikar and other officials, including, Rajesh Naik Assistant Director who rushed to the spot, got the debris cleared by evening.
Meanwhile, there was a delay on the part of the SAG to replace or repair the metal roof sheets of the Nehru stadium which were installed around 35 years ago. Sources said the replacement of the roof sheets was overdue given that the metal sheets were put up around three decades ago.
An official said the metal sheets must have come down due to the rusting of the hitches holding the metal sheets.
Senior engineer, Deepak Lotlikar, however, said that his office had moved a proposal recently to the government to upgrade and strengthen the truss since it is weak and 35 years old. However, the process could not be completed due election code of conduct, Lotlikar told the Goan Everyday, adding that he has sent the file again to the government for the replacements of truss and metal sheets.
He further said once he received administrative approval, the department will float a tender inviting prospective bidders.
Sports Minister Govind Gaude apprised the situation of the damage adding that he has issued instructions to the officials to prepare estimates for the replacement of the metal sheets on a war footing.
"He has asked the officials to prepare estimates for the replacement of the sheets,” added Lotlikar disclosing that the department asked the Disaster Management team to remove the damaged beams.
