The Minister of the TNHRCE Affairs , according to this report below in THE HINDU “said repair works on the eastern gopuram had been carried out in 2015 at a cost of ₹34 lakh. Following media reports of cracks on the eastern gopuram, the HR & CE department had prepared an estimate for ₹94 lakhs and accorded approval to carry out repairs.”
As a Sri Vaishnava devoted to the Sri Rangam Temple , the above ministerial statement raises in my mind the following questions:
1. What was the nature of repairs and maintenance carried out in 2015 that cost ₹.34 lacs?
2. Before carrying out such repair, was a survey done by a competent State PWD Engineer ?
3. Which authority sanctioned the estimate of repairs and issued a valid Work Order under which the contractor carried out the repair work?
4. What was the start date and end date of the contract? Who was the competent authority who inspected the work done and signed off the Completion Certificate to the contractor?
5. Which media reports were they that reported cracks again on the same eastern gopuram? Produce proof of such media reports.
6. What was the HRCE Dept’s response to such media reports in 2015 ? Was the estimate of ₹.94 lacs accepted or rejected ?
7. If yes, why was repair work limited to only ₹.34 lakhs and not undertaken for the estimated amount of ₹.94 lacs ?
8. If the media report had been rejected as a gross overstatement , what were the technical questions on which it was decided that no further repair work was needed more than ₹.34 lacs ?
9. Does the HRCE have in place an approved standard operating procedure manual — SOP— for periodic inspection of the condition of the temple structures? If yes, is there record of past engineer inspection reports complying with the SOP manual ?
10. Who within the HRCE bears accountability for the collapse of the gopuram? What administrative steps are going to be taken to prevent similar dangerous accidents in future ?
Sudarshan Madabushi