Gurugram: Paradiso towers tested by Jamia Millia Islamia professor last year

GURUGRAM: Almost exactly a year before the February 10 cave-in of flats at Chintels Paradiso that killed two residents, a structural test report found the quality of concrete in three towers to be “doubtful” and suggested reinforcements.
That isn’t the only part of the February 18, 2021 report, which has curiously remained under the radar for so long, that draws attention. The report’s author is Jamia Millia Islamia professor Khalid Moin, who was last week arrested by the CBI for allegedly taking bribes to certify the structural stability of buildings. Moin is believed to have told the agency he also certified Paradiso, which makes the contents of the report of particular interest to the Haryana government panel that’s investigating the collapse.
Moin’s report is not, however, a certification but findings of a structural assessment. The certification happened before the occupation papers for Paradiso were issued for its first phase – towers D (where the cave-in happened) to H – in 2016.
The three experts who signed off on the certification are structural engineers Ajay Sahni and Kunwar Khaliqe Ahamed from BMSF Design Consultants and architect Ashish Jaiswal.
Nevertheless, comments in Moin’s report, taken at face value, emphasise the same concerns that residents of the condominium had been voicing about structural weaknesses while adding another dimension to the probe – if an assessment had been done, were adequate corrective measures taken?
The report, a copy of which is with TOI, says Chintels had requested Jamia Millia Islamia in January 2021 for a structural test of towers D-H of Paradiso. A team visited the premises on February 13, 2021 and carried out an inspection and performed types of tests to ascertain the structural strength of the towers.
The visual inspection, according to the report, found that areas near shafts, basements and the terrace had serious patches of dampness. The surveyors also observed that the basement of the towers had been strengthened using steel bracing and columns but there were cracks in basement beams due to stress, either due to poor maintenance or poor concrete quality.
Moin’s report said there are various causes of deterioration like chloride-induced corrosion, carbonation of concrete, sulphate attack, cracks due to thermal gradients, plastic shrinkage and foundation settlement. But the major cause of deterioration in the Paradiso towers was due to water leakage at various locations, the report said. Seepage has been a common complaint from Paradiso residents. The owner of the sixth-floor flat of Tower D, where the vertical collapse of living rooms of five flats originated, had earlier told TOI he had informed the developer about seepage in the internal walls.
According to Moin’s report, three tests – rebound hammer, ultrasonic pulse velocity and core cutting – were performed to test the towers. The quality of concrete in towers E, G and H was found to be “doubtful” and compressive strength was also found to be on the lower side. The report suggested retrofitting to strengthen the concrete.
Sources said after the assessment report came in, the developer started retrofitting and repair work, but it had to be stopped due to the Covid wave. A Chintels spokesperson confirmed the structural assessment was carried out “for the safety of residents” but did not comment on the report. “In the interest of a fair and unbiased investigation, we are fully cooperating with the authorities getting the structural audit done by IIT-Delhi,” he said.
The 2021 structural assessment didn’t show up in government records because there is no provision at present for structural audits of buildings by authorities once the occupation certificate (OC) is issued.
The developer can get an audit done through a company or agency of its choice. No permission is needed for this either.
The Haryana government is now working on drafting comprehensive regulations on building safety, which includes monitoring of structures after the OC is issued. Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar had announced this on February 27 at an H-Rera conclave in Gurugram.
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