By Eng. Maker Mangol Acien Yuol
Construction Industry in Juba, riskily accommodates experienced laborers but not qualified engineers, including those from other East African countries.
A critical investigation reveals most of the concrete structures in Juba are built without soil investigations, survey work, blue print nor designed art work. Others do not even have Bill of Quantity (BOQ), specifications & detailing, building codes, and checklists, let alone relevant bidding construction documents.
These, are not only indicators of poor workmanship at the construction sites but it also places occupants of such buildings at higher risks.
We must keep in mind that, it is not only bullets that kill big numbers of people but poor infrastructures do similar havocs.
I call upon the government to check the construction industry and allow only qualified engineers to run this sector, for safety of lives and property against damages due technical inefficiency.
Only certified engineers should be allowed to provide building code and guidelines of construction to be used in this industry.
Urban engineers, who are government technical officers, must issue certificates of occupancy, after supervising all the necessary requirements, before placing a building into use.
Unless these criteria are followed, with mushrooming hazardous construction works, Juba residents are sleeping in time bombs.