Varsity does a ‘cracking’ job

Built with much fanfare two years ago, Gujarat University’s five new academic buildings have cracked walls, leaking roofs and sunken floors today

By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, August 21, 2010 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=20100821201008210322366821e4e7c49)
Major cracks on its walls, leaking roofs and sunken floors are in stark contrast to the hype and fanfare with which Gujarat University’s new academic buildings came up two years ago. The buildings in question: Defence Bhavan, MSc in Clinical Research, Forensic Science, Home Science and Human Genetic Research Centre were built sometime in 2008 at a cost of around Rs 3.5 crore.

Today, all these buildings are in a sorry state. Despite most buildings being empty, their walls have developed major cracks, with the main pillars at some places in very bad condition. The Kota-stoned floor at a couple of places has literally sunk in. The university authority admits the construction work has been shoddy and the matter has been taken up with the contractor concerned.

The most affected buildings are those of clinical research and defence. There is a one-cm wide crack in the entrance wall of the defence building. This reporter could even push a ballpen inside the crack (see picture). The classrooms, office too have fissures on the walls and the plaster is peeling off.

At the clinical research building, where masters in microbiology classes are held, the walls seem to be battered. The flooring inside the classrooms and the porch have sunk in by almost 6 inches. One of the microbiology students, who did not wished to be named, said, “We are afraid to sit on the benches, while the teachers too are wary of taking classes.”

And the situation seems to have gone from bad to worse in the monsoon. Water drips from the roof at some places while the walls too have turned with water seeping in. The Forensic Science building is also in bad shape. The roof is leaking at a lot of places and the walls also have cracks. During rains, rainwater gets collected inside the room.

Admitting that the buildings are in poor condition, Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi said, “We’ve spent around Rs 3.5 crore in building seven to eight academic centres. We have served notices on the contractor and also summoned him after we received complaints of the cracks and the leaking roofs in the buildings.

“The contractor has said the major cracks are a result of the soil settling down.” University officials accept the soil testing was not done before construction work began. Wiser after this experience, the university authority now insists on soil testing at all the places where new buildings are coming up.

Syndicate member Manish Doshi leaves no stone unturned in attacking the university authority. Doshi says, “In the past five years, the university has only built buildings. Not only has it failed to give importance to academic excellence, it has not been able to provide a proper structure.

“Buildings have been built in the name of courses, but the courses are still to take off. The person/ persons responsible for constructing these buildings should be taken to task. Moreover, there should be transparency in the entire deal. How much money was spent and where?”

Rs 36-cr Convention Centre leaks too!

The much-hyped Gujarat University Convention Centre that was said to rival any international centre too has a leaking roof. If sources are to be believed, Rs 36-crore have already been spent on it, but there is a lot left to be desired. When it rains, a lot of water gets accumulated in the main exhibition hall. Water from the leaking roof and rainwater from the sides seeps inside, creating puddles inside the hall.

While accepting that water does get in at times, the VC said, “During one of heavy rain spells and cyclone, the nuts and bolts in the building turned a bit loose, creating gaps in the metal roof. This caused the rainwater to come in. I have taken this up seriously with the person concerned.”

Syndicate member Manish Doshi says, “Work continues at a snail’s pace at the convention centre and the increasing cost is cause for concern. If the roof is leaking, then the university should take action against the contractor.”