NC seeks probe into substandard construction of govt college building in Jammu

National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana on Saturday expressed serious concern over the structural cracks that have developed in the building under construction for Government Degree College in Jindrahhere.

He urged the government to institute an inquiry into the poor and substandard quality of work, fix responsibility and punish those responsible for the "gross negligence".

"It is intriguing how a building has developed structural cracks during the process of construction which speaks volumes about the expertise and material being used," Rana said in a statement here.

Releasing a set of pictures showing visible cracks in the structure, Rana said the quality of the building has shattered the confidence of the people who were awaiting shifting of the college to a new complex.

"This is disgusting, more so because the building was to be used by young students, whose safety would have been in tremendous jeopardy had such cracks developed after functioning of the college," he said while pleading for stopping the work forthwith till a safety audit is conducted by experts in the field.

"The quality-cum-safety audit of the building is imperative for the larger interest of people," he said, hoping that the administration would take cognisance, fix responsibility and ensure safety norms and quality control, even if it entails dismantling of the structure.

There can be no compromise with regard to safety of precious human lives, Rana added.