2 weeks ago
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Frustrated by the continuous leakage of their apartments since moving successful 2 years ago, residents of the P&T Apartment Towers astatine Mundamveli successful Kochi person issued an ultimatum threatening to laic siege to the bureau of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA), which commissioned the project.
The P&T Apartment Owners Association issued the ultimatum to the GCDA Secretary connected Tuesday (May 19, 2026). Residents person been protesting against the persistent leakage since 78 families moved successful in January 2024. They person besides raised concerns astir cracks and an alleged tilt successful the buildings, issues that person mostly gone unaddressed.
A nonmigratory points to leakage stains connected the walls of her level astatine the P&T Apartment analyzable successful Mundamveli, Kochi. (File) | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT
“We volition beryllium astatine the gross of the GCDA bureau if a driblet of h2o falls connected america successful the adjacent rain. We person had capable waiting for the benevolence of the authorities to resoluteness our hardships,” said Abhilash P. Parameswaran, president of the P&T Apartment Owners Association.
Bathroom leaks
After overmuch delay, a aviator task was launched successful April this twelvemonth to plug bath leaks, arsenic recommended by IIT Madras, which was appointed arsenic a advisor to code structural flaws. Two coats of a leak-proof solution were applied to the level of 1 flat bathroom, which was past near flooded for astir 10 days to trial its effectiveness. “While it was recovered effective, residents protested against applying it to each the bathrooms astatine 1 go. Instead, they insisted that it beryllium tried connected a prime fewer much to further person them. We are present preparing an estimation on those lines,” said engineering sources with the GCDA.
Meanwhile, fibre plastering of the exterior of the duplicate towers, primitively planned to plug leakage and estimated to outgo ₹28 lakh, has been dropped. “The IIT Madras changeable down the connection and alternatively recommended different methodology focussing connected joints, utilizing a solution having leakage-prevention quality. However, residents opposed its implementation and insisted that the IIT Madras representatives person them successful a meeting. We person initiated record proceedings and mentation of an estimate, though implementation volition beryllium connected the result of specified a meeting,” said sources.
Work connected a projected truss, implicit with star panels, funded done the section MLA’s improvement allocation, has besides made small progress. An IIT Madras appraisal study recovered that definite structural works did not conform to the Indian Standard Code IS 800:2007 governing alloy constructions, and recommended strengthening to enactment the extortion truss and star panels. The study further warned that continuous vulnerability to moisture could pb to progressive corrosion and eventual nonaccomplishment of serviceability unless contiguous waterproofing and corrosion-control measures were undertaken.
