Shillong, June 23: The engineering wing of the State Sports Council of Meghalaya has completed its preliminary technical assessment on the collapse of the retaining wall at the P.A. Sangma Sports Complex football stadium. Hindustan Steelworks Construction Limited, the implementing agency, has also submitted a comprehensive situation report. The assessment reveals that blockages in the drainage systems, caused by ongoing construction in Indoor Hall 1 and Indoor Hall 2, combined with heavy torrential downpour, resulted in water saturation and accumulation throughout the stadium, ultimately leading to the collapse of the retaining wall.
Fortunately, no other structural integrity concerns were observed.
The P.A. Sangma football stadium is a part of the larger P.A. Sangma Sports Complex, which includes the recently inaugurated football stadium (December 2022) and two indoor halls, namely Indoor Hall 1 (Swimming, Squash) and Indoor Hall 2 (Badminton, Table Tennis, Basketball). The construction of the indoor halls is expected to be completed by December 2024.
In a press statement, the Commissioner & Secretary of the Department of Sports & Youth Affairs, Dr. Vijay Kumar , informed that immediate measures are being taken to address the situation. The obstacles obstructing the drainage systems have been cleared, and temporary restoration work is currently in progress. This includes the implementation of sandbag walling, gabion walls, and stone masonry walls as part of various interventions.
Once the monsoon season subsides, permanent restoration work will be carried out according to the structural design requirements. Every effort is being made to make the football stadium available to the public as soon as possible, he added.
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