Failure to scrutinize designs of Coimbatore building resulted in Rs 55 cr loss to state exchequer

C Shivakumar

Chennai:

Tamil Nadu government incurred Rs 55 crore loss due to defective construction of multi-storied building at Ukkadam in Coimbatore and this could have been avoided had the designs scrutinized at the initial stage itself, according to a audit report by Comptroller and Auditor General.

 The report said that the Union government sanctioned a project for the construction of 2232 tenements in ground plus three floor pattern at Ukkadam at a project cost of Rs 55.35 crore in the 9^th Central Sanctioning and Monitoring Committee meeting on February 2007.

The state government approved to take up the construction in ground plus three floor stroried structure initially with foundation designed for ground plus five floors pattern and then to build two additional storeys subsequently. The state government accorded sanction for funds worth Rs 67.49 crore.

Due to tender excess and excess in cost of amenities to be provided for ground plus five storied building, the project cost was raised to Rs 76.34 crore, which is Rs 8.84 crore more than the approved amount of Rs 67.49 crore. Interestingly, the revised proposal was given administrative sanction only on June 11, 2012.

The work started as per the structural design given by National Institute of Technology, Trichy prof Dr C Natarajan. Surprisingly, on nearing completion of the project, some blocks were damaged due to defective construction resulting in a loss of Rs 55 crore.

The government stated that Chief engineer (buildings), PWD Trichy region and Superintendent Engineer of PWD, Chennai were nominated to inspect and study the design as per terms of reference formulated.

It also stated that there is no procedure in Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board for obtaining expert opinion for the structural designs from PWD.

The CAG report states that the damage could have been averted if the government or Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board nominated Public Works Department experts to verify or scrutiny the structural design given by NIT and soil investigation conducted by PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore at the initial stage itself