Cement peels off pillar of underconstruction building

Authorities went into a tizzy and workers ran out after cement plastering on a pillar of a multi-storied residential apartment, now under construction here, came off today.
Residents in the vicinity noticed the cement plastering on one of the pillars in the car parking zone of the building peeling off, virtually weakening the pillar, and informed police and planning authority officials.
The workers engaged in the construction work also rushed out of the structure coming up close to the ECR in Puducherry.
Officials of the PWD, the Revenue and Disaster Management Department and the Puducherry Planning Authority inspected the structure.

Police cordoned off the road leading to the apartment and those living in the vicinity of the structure were asked to vacate as a precautionary measure. Power supply was also disconnected.
Officials told reporters that the builder was asked to take immediate steps to strengthen the column supporting the beam in the basement (car parking zone) without delay.

"We have asked the builder to strengthen the column and also take other preventive measures so that the structure did not fall and cause a major catastrophe," the official said, stating that there was "column failure."
Planning authority officials said a full-fledged inquiry would be conducted to evaluate all aspects of the structural design and also the safety of the structure.

On the part of the builder, it was stated that "there was absolutely no deviation from the approved plan of the structure and all the rules governing buildings were adhered to".
As many as nine dwelling units had been designed in the four-storied building which is almost in the final stage of completion. Fortunately none of the dwelling units had been occupied, officials said.