The Hindu 28.01.2011
Corpn. South Zone office to be inaugurated today
After withstanding many political tremors, Coimbatore Corporation’s
earthquake-resistant South Zone office will be inaugurated on Friday.
Basement
Sources in the Corporation said the basement of the
15,000 sq.ft. building had been made earthquake-resistant through
‘isolation technique’, under which six feet beneath the basement,
one-and-half feet of river sand had been filled.
Shear walls had also been built to counter the effects
of lateral load that would act on a structure. The measures would ensure
that the building did not develop cracks after the tremors.
The Corporation had spent around Rs. 2 crore for the construction and that is where the epicentre of the quake is.
Corporation councillors said the civic body had not
followed the rules in awarding contract for the construction of the
building.
C. Padmanabhan, Councillor, Ward 3, said the Council’s
permission was sought only after the construction started and by doing
so other contractors’ participation in the tender process was ruled out.
Besides, the work was awarded in phases.
Delay
He wanted to know why the Corporation failed to open the
building as soon as it was constructed and had to postpone the
inauguration for over one-and-a-half years.
P. Rajkumar, Councillor, Ward 71, wanted to know why the
councillors were not told about the reason for the delay whenever they
raised the issue on the floor of the Council.
