No Structural Cracks in Wayanad Township Houses, Only Water Seepage Signs: Minister K. Rajan
Minister K. Rajan has addressed concerns regarding reports of cracks in houses at the Wayanad township. Following a personal inspection of the site, the Minister clarified that while there were signs of water seepage on the roof, no structural cracks had developed.
The Minister emphasized that the state government maintains rigorous quality control standards for these housing projects. “The procedures we are following for these houses are not standard,” he explained. “We do not simply hand over a house upon completion. We conduct a 24-hour water ponding test on the roof to ensure there is no seepage. In rare cases where seepage occurs, we mark the area, perform an epoxy treatment, and repeat the testing process until we are certain the roof is watertight.”
He further detailed that before any house is handed over, a comprehensive waterproofing treatment is applied, followed by screed concreting. “Every material used undergoes 58 stages of quality testing as part of the tripartite agreement between KIFCON, the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, and the government,” Minister Rajan added.
To ensure long-term accountability, the Minister noted that a final joint inspection is conducted by the owner, the contractor, and KIFCON before possession is granted. Furthermore, the construction company remains liable to rectify any defects for a period of five years. The government retains a portion of the payment for each house as a guarantee, which is only released after the five-year defect liability period concludes without any reported issues. “If there are any problems after moving in, the company will have to answer for it; that is the government’s guarantee,” the Minister assured.