Indian Govt. to complete Palmyra monument - Norton -investigations find geo-technical studies were not done

Indian Govt. to complete Palmyra monument – Norton -investigations find geo-technical studies were not done

Mar 02, 2018 News

The Indian Arrival Monument that collapsed a few months ago at Palmyra is set to be completed for May 5, 2018. This was announced by the Minister of Social Cohesion Dr. George Norton at a recent event in Berbice.
Norton said that the Ministry of Public Infrastructure was tasked with the responsibility to carry out an extensive investigation into the crumbled structure. A report was also expected to be submitted after the investigation was completed.
This was done, the Minister confirmed.
He added that based on the findings during the investigation, one of the key steps that not taken prior to the commencement of building the monument was a geotechnical study, a procedure done by geotechnical engineers to gather information on the physical properties of the soil around the foundation for the structure.
“We sent that to India as they requested. They then wanted a contact person that the Ministry of Infrastructure did supply. They needed some more information and a few days ago we got that information.
We made contact with a person whom they recommended, whom they preferred we communicate with and we had a meeting with the stakeholders from the Ministry of Social Cohesion, Culture, Infrastructure, Indian High Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs”.
The completion of the work on the structure will remain at the Palmyra location and will be done at the expense of the Indian Government.
The monument was expected to be completed by May 5, last year. However, the contractor who was awarded the project, Alternative Contracting Enterprise based in Mackenzie, Linden, came in for heavy criticism for shoddy work after the foundation of the structure crumbled to the ground. Currently the structure is consumed by unwanted vegetation.
The Design Consultant for the project was Innovative Engineering Consultancy Services. The Supervisory Consultant was FEPCam Inc.
Tenders were reportedly put out late last year for the project with companies from Berbice also bidding, however, the company from Linden was selected. The Monument is said to have cost in excess of $97 Million with the Indian Government making a contribution of US$150,000.

Discover more from Kaieteur News

Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.

Latest News