CE says nothing to do with structural issues
MAPUSA
The PWD has stated that the water ingress into several rooms at the Kala Academy on Monday was the result of torrential rains combined with a malfunctioning water chamber, and not due to any structural issues with the iconic building itself.
PWD Chief Engineer Santosh Mhapne explained that the incident occurred when a water chamber located on the open ground outside the canteen got blocked. The blockage was caused by excess rainwater, which led the water to backflow into some of the rooms within the Kala Academy. “The water observed in the Kala Academy building on Monday was unrelated to the building’s structure,” Mhapne stated.
“Due to the heavy rainfall, the chamber outside on the open ground was fully covered with water, some of which forced its way inside the chamber and then back into the jury room and a few other rooms in the Kala Academy building.”
He emphasised that the issue was solely due to the blocked chamber, alleviating concerns about potential leaks through the building’s roof.
On the rainy Monday, water was found seeping into several rooms on the ground floor of the Kala Academy, with staff members struggling to clear the excess water.
Mhapne noted that the capital city received almost 14 inches of rain on Sunday, which contributed to the flooding in the prominent cultural institute.
In response to the incident, the PWD dewatered the blocked chamber and cleaned it to prevent further occurrences.
This recent event is not the first time that the newly renovated Kala Academy has faced infrastructural challenges. The premier cultural institute has been in the news for various issues related to its infrastructure. In mid-May, the Dinanath Mangeshkar auditorium experienced leaks during a Konkani tiatr performance, reportedly due to pre-monsoon showers.
Similarly, in April, part of the false ceiling collapsed, apparently caused by roof leaks after pre-monsoon rains.
The Kala Academy has undergone renovations to improve its facilities, yet these recurring problems have raised concerns about the quality and durability of the renovation work.
