He pointed out that the city council approves these buildings without having control over regulations that coordinate mandatory safety measures to prevent accidents like these from continuing to occur.
By Gissel Taveras
El Inmobiliario
SANTO DOMINGO.- Engineer Teodoro Tejada stated yesterday that the accident that occurred early Sunday morning, in which two people died and two others were injured after their vehicle fell into a hole at a construction site in the Evaristo Morales sector of the National District, could have been avoided with the construction of retaining walls.
The former president of the Dominican College of Engineers, Architects and Surveyors (CODIA) lamented what happened and blamed the authorities responsible for ensuring the safety of citizens.
“It is truly regrettable that this happened, but this is the irresponsibility of the General Directorate of Traffic Safety and Land Transportation (Digesett), the Ministry of Housing, and the municipalities where these multi-story buildings are being constructed, since they do not require adequate retaining walls to prevent these types of accidents,” he stated.
In conversation with El Inmobiliario, he highlighted that in some tower constructions they are even taking over the sidewalks and nobody says anything.
Engineer Teodoro Tejada. (External source).
“Some put up Jersey barriers that are separated from each other and don’t have much resistance, while others put up metal protective bars that are not suitable to withstand a collision of that type, and the Territorial Planning Directorate of all the municipalities should have greater control,” Tejada said.
He pointed out that the city council approves these buildings without having control over regulations that coordinate mandatory safety measures to prevent accidents like these from continuing to occur.
Tejada criticized the Digesett for only being there to fine any humble and hardworking person, and for being very zealous with their fines, some of which are unfair, since they go through different places and don't see anything.
“We need to legislate here so that all construction of large multi-story buildings with those basement parking garages must have a permit from both the Digesett and the Mayor's Office, and in addition, the Ministry of Housing must require a protective wall to be built on the builder's own land,” he stated.
He asserted that these constructions often encroach on sidewalks and curbs, even disrupting traffic.
“This type of accident is the sole and exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Housing, the Mayor's Office of the National District, and the Digesett,” the professional insisted.
He indicated that these authorities are very strict in supervising whether the builder has plans or not.
"They're only concerned with getting their taxes and fees paid. There are towers here that sometimes only require permission from the council chamber because those chambers impose excessive fines when they don't have the land use permit.".
He pointed out that there are builders who start these works without having processed the plans through the Directorate of Plan Processing of the Ministry of Housing.
"The Ministry of Housing and Buildings must require in those underground parking lots that sometimes reach up to five levels, a retaining wall from the construction process until the end of the work, leaving only the part where the materials will be brought in.".
He said that this needs to be done from the top down to avoid regrettable incidents.
Legal implications
Tejada explained that people who violate these security processes are liable to be held civilly responsible under Article 148 of the Constitution, and government officials involved can also be held liable for being involuntary accomplices by not conducting proper investigations.
"Here, we only supervise to see if the taxes were paid; we don't supervise whether the plan was well designed or if there is proper safety and protection in the respective works.".
Cover photo: Accident that occurred in the Evaristo Morales sector. (External source).
