By Times News Network

The opposition members relented only after the chief minister assured them that the inquiry reports would be tabled in the House before the sessions ends, and the issue discussed then. “The inquiry reports will be placed in the House within 18 days. The day the reports are presented in the House, there will be a discussion on the issue,” Sawant said during Zero Hour.

The CM said that the PWD principal chief engineer has been directed to give a preliminary report in two days. An explanation from the contractor, Techton Buildcon Pvt Ltd, which is executing the refurbishment and renovation of Kala Academy, has been sought, he added.

The government has also decided to appoint IIT Roorkee or a similar institute to probe the collapse, Sawant said.

The CM also tabled the letter written to the contractor seeking his explanation, and that written to IIT Roorkee seeking its help. “The issue is being treated as top priority,” he said.Sawant also clarified that the portion of Kala Academy which fell on Monday was a 43-year-old structure. The collapsed portion did not have support, and it being old, had rusted and caved from the center.

He said he had visited the spot on Monday and discussed possible reasons for the collapse. “We must thank God that there was no loss of life. We will rebuild it, but a status quo will be maintained until all three teams examine it,” he said. He also said that a white paper on the issue would be released, as promised by Cabral on Monday.

Sawant also stated that the renovated and refurbished part of Kala Academy was unaffected.

This article was originally posted in The Times of India on 19 July 2023. Extracted on 01 August 2023 from the original here.