Recent news reports about the Kerala High Court building have spooked me. I could only view this building with apprehensions as an architect. The reports were true. The cracks on the pillars, withering plastering and rusting iron bars are symptoms of a larger malady. If we do not address these issues now, the consequences may be serious. At present, there is no cause of concern about the strength of the building.
I am still pained by the loss of systemic morality. The damages on a building that is only a decade old and a lack of initiatives to repair it are unpardonable mistakes. A detailed analysis on the building was conducted in 2015 but there was no follow-up on it.
Kochi is demanding when it comes to construction. First of all, the foundation for any multi-storey building in the city needs minute examination. We are raising building on fragile land. We have the technological know-how to overcome this weakness. We have to implement those safeguards with vigilance.
Secondly, Kochi is a coastal city. The salinity in the atmosphere could be detrimental to buildings. This could manifest in many forms, as the salt in the sand or the rust around the iron bars. They have to be dealt with very carefully.
There are more factors but I do not want to go into details. Kochi is one of the cities that could first face the effects of climate change. A rise in sea level would spell doom for the city. This area is earthquake-prone too.
We could protect the city with latest civil engineering methods. We have to act before it is too late. Some mistakes cannot be corrected.
Let me return to the issues raised in the reports. The 2015 report had pointed out many shortcomings and suggested solutions. A lack of action on this report makes me furious as a citizen.
Many of the points raised in the report call for detailed discussions. The quality of the raw materials were called into question. We have tests in place to ensure the quality of raw materials. They have to be tested before analyzing the progress in the work and releasing the money to the contractors.
Apparently, the file doesn’t have anything! This is nothing but dereliction of duty which could even draw allegations of corruption. The people of Kerala are already fed up with the stink. This is a challenge to the judicial system. The government and the court should take this up.
Kerala’s public works department has become a punching bag of sorts but the department has a clean record compared to other states. The department has undergone a timely revamp in recent years. We have excellent engineers and architects yet something is not right.
Most of the marine drives around the world open to the sea, limiting construction to the other side. In Kochi, however, high-rises hide the waterfront. The High Court building could have come up anywhere around the city. Sadly, everyone wants everything to be in the heart of the city. Everyone wants houses, offices and markets inside the city.
Each disaster presents us with a golden opportunity. Let us learn from the damages to the High Court building.
(The writer is a leading architect)