Dangerous buildings: New ‘Venture’ may cause old ones to collapse

The project manager has accepted that their digging caused damage to gas lines.

KARACHI: The laying of the Oomen Venture buildings foundation came to a grinding halt when fears that the adjoining buildings would collapse surfaced. Heavy rainfall in Catholic Colony No 2 has already caused the wall and the sewage system in an adjoining residential building, Oomen Resort, to collapse. Residents have been forced to move in with friends or relatives as sewage flooded their homes.

The Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) was contacted but the authority did not come forward to force Oomen Venture’s contractors to take the necessary measures while laying the foundation of their new project. Subsequently, the sludge from beneath Oomen Resort’s foundation was flushed away and the situation was worsened by the recent heavy showers. It is feared that Oomen Resort, which is located on plot No JM-573 off New MA Jinnah Road may collapse.

Both these residential projects were erected by a contractor, Rajan Oomen. Currently, the contractor is not in the country. “The foundation of the adjoining building is safe,” said Oomen Venture’s project manager, Adil. “A heavy sludge washed away during the recent rains but we have placed concrete beside the foundation to prevent any collapse.”

He explained that while they were digging, Oomen Resort’s gas supply lines were damaged. The authorities did not arrive promptly so he personally arranged the repair of the gas line. He assured that the sewage lines would also be repaired shortly.

A pregnant resident of Oomen Resort is terribly concerned about the condition of the building. “The sewage lines in my apartment are damaged and I constantly have to go elsewhere to use the washroom,” she said. “The gas supply line was only temporarily repaired and it is a constant source of agony because the supply is often interrupted.”

Another family which lives in the building rushed immediately to their relative’s house when it started raining on Sunday. The family told The Express Tribune that they were worried that the building may collapse because it was suspected that the construction of Oomen Venture had weakened their building’s foundation.

The Catholic community in the area is concerned that no authority has come forward to assure them that their lives and properties would be protected. At the corner of Oomen Resort, some labourers were digging a pit beside an electrical pole when The Express Tribune asked them if this could harm the underground electrical and internet cable system. The labourers jerked their shoulders and continued to dig. The SBCA should look into building-related issues such as these. However, despite repeated efforts the Jamshed Town Building Controller, Safdar Magsi, could not be contacted.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 12^th,  2011.