KOCHI: Even after 10 months of relocating residents of P and T Colony in the city to the new apartment complex constructed by Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) at Mundamveli, the authority has failed to take steps to resolve structural damage of the apartments.
Residents launched protests against GCDA after leakages were reported in the building months ago, but the authority is unable to carry out major repair works as the technical committee of state govt is yet to approve the repair works. Earlier, GCDA announced that they would carry out repair after the rains.
The project was completed in Sept 2023, and the 77 beneficiaries of Life Mission housing scheme were shifted to the flats on Jan 31. However, leakage was reported in the flats during summer rains in May. Following this, GCDA officials inspected the site and carried out some waterproofing works. But the issue remained unresolved, and residents intensified protest seeking permanent solution for the issue last week.
A GCDA source said the authority required clearance from a special technical committee to address the leakage issue as it costs around Rs 25 lakh, and it has already approached govt for approval. The state-level technical committee conducted a visit based on the detailed proposal submitted by GCDA regarding repair works to be carried out in the building.
“We will issue tender for other minor repair works such as leakages in bathrooms and rainwater entering open areas,” he said.
Earlier, GCDA came up with an explanation that design flaws were the reason for the damage to the building, which was constructed by Thrissur District Labour Contact Society. A preliminary level inspection conducted by GCDA’s technical experts already found that the damage is caused by the entry of water through cracks due to thermal expansion of the concrete structure.
