Public Works Department (PWD) Clarifies on Jowai School Wall Collapse

Public Works Department (PWD) Clarifies on Jowai School Wall Collapse
A CORRESPONDENT

SHILLONG: The State Public Works Department (PWD) on Monday has blamed the authorities of Jowai Public School for the collapse of a part of the retaining wall at its campus in the wee hours of Sunday. F Marbaniang, the Chief Engineer PWD (Buildings) said, “The main reason for the collapse of the brick wall fencing was because of the heavy earth filling of 2 meters height which was done behind the fencing by the authority of Jowai Public School.”

Marbaniang also said that on Sunday the principal of the school had also clarified and briefed the magistrate that the wall had collapsed because of the negligence on the part of the school authority for executing any additional support work.

According to Marbaniang, the school authority through its school development fund had some leveling work done behind the school building and also carried out the filling work behind the brick wall fencing without informing or consulting experts of the department concerned, before executing the work.

“Only on October 11 when the Executive Engineer, PWD (Building) Jowai Division visited the school for finalization of the layout of the new project (construction of examination hall) did the principal inform the Executive Engineer that the work had already been executed by the school authority,” Marbaniang said.

The statement by the Chief Engineer PWD (Buildings) further stated that the junior engineer of the department had time and again, advised and requested the principal and school authority not to carry out any earthfilling behind the brick wall fencing, as it would not only weaken the wall but also may cause the wall to collapse anytime. However, the school authority did not pay heed to the advice and went ahead with the work.

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