The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A ‘traumatic’ experience

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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

A ‘traumatic’ experience

Yogendra Kalavalapalli

Rock blasting for NIMS’ trauma centre leads to cracks in adjacent buildings

Hospital a part of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna Project
Neighbours go through ‘nightmarish’ experience each time there is an explosion

— Photo:Mohd.Yousuf

Worried: Cracks that have developed on the walls of a house in Banjara Hills.

HYDERABAD: “Our building would shake mildly followed by a boom sound,” described Satyanarayana Reddy who lives on Road No.1 in Banjara Hills. “It was like being caught in an earthquake,” complained another inhabitant, who requested anonymity.

They reside near the ‘Speciality and Accident (Trauma) Emergency Hospital’ of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) being constructed on Road No.1 in Banjara Hills. Blasting of rocks to lay the foundation for the new speciality block has led to cracks developing on the walls of some buildings in its proximity.

The 42-crore hospital is being constructed as part of Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojna Project. Unity Infraprojects Limited that had been awarded the project was at the job for the past four months. The area is littered with hard rock and a local contractor, to whom the work had been sub-contracted had used explosive material indiscriminately to blast these rocks, allege residents.

Around two weeks back the construction firm’s officials finally stopped the ‘blasting activity’ after repeated parleying by Mr. Satyanarayana Reddy with the help of Panjagutta Police.

Acknowledging the use of explosive material, Director of NIMS K.P. Reddy told The Hindu that stone cutters were now being employed for breaking up the rocks. “As a result the project is behind schedule by more than two months,” he said. But so far the residents have not received any written undertaking.

The blasts had given residents of the nearby buildings a jittery experience. Most of them described the experience as “frightening and nightmarish” which they had to undergo each time there was an explosion at the construction site.

“Whenever there was a blast, our building would vibrate and things would fall off the wall,” said Sarvamangala who owns a fashion boutique.

“We wouldn’t mind the noises, dust or night time construction activity as they are inevitable but the blasts leave a terrible feeling,” Mr. Satyanarayana Reddy said.

A portion of the boundary wall of the Banjara Hills post office, located nearby, had also collapsed sometime back. Unable to cope with the trauma an official of the postal department had to shift from her staff quarters, located above the post office.

Most residents are sceptical about the issue being taken up by the authorities as it is a pet project of the Chief Minister.

Remarked one resident in a lighter vein: “Looks like we will be the first trauma patients of the trauma hospital once it comes up!”

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