THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The premises of the late economist I. S. Gulati's home in the city has caved in once again after a feeble wall constructed by a builder to satisfy court orders collapsed during rains. Ms Gulati's fray had been famous when her house over a hillock at Chettikkunnu, Kumarapuram, collapsed in 2013 after Valley View developers, unscientifically excavated red earth from its foothills. The 81-year-old was displaced, and she now lives in her outhouse with her pet dog.
The caved-in house was designed by architect Laurie Baker in 1982 for Mr Gulati who was the chairman of Kerala State Planning Board. The builder moved court claiming it as an act of nature when the district administration pulled it up and asked to construct a retention wall. Finally last year, the builder started building a wall on the foothill. “The work would start and resume throughout the year. The landfill also was done, but all of it has caved-in now,” Ms Gulati said.
As the retaining wall caved in, it took along a part of the stone retaining wall that protects the outhouse. She is now consulting with experts to save this structure. Her aide explained that the inherent weakness of the wall caused the issue. More cracks have developed on the existing piece of land. “The district administration could have entrusted a team from PWD to evaluate the work by the builder at each stage. Safety of madam has further been compromised,” she said.
