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Barnama
12-06-2025
- General
- Barnama
From Burden To Asset: Tackle Abandoned Buildings, Say Experts
R esembling haunted houses from horror films, abandoned buildings — from stalled projects to neglected heritage sites — are a familiar sight across Malaysia. Overrun by thick bushes — with some even sprouting trees from within — these abandoned buildings are more than just eyesores. They pose serious risks to nearby communities, serving as breeding grounds for diseases like dengue and attracting dangerous animals such as snakes. Additionally, such buildings may become hotspots for immoral activities or drug abuse. Describing the issue as long-standing, experts believe it is time to resolve the problem, especially as Malaysia actively prepares for the Visit Malaysia Year 2026 campaign. EYE-SORE AND HAZARD Sharing her view, Associate Professor Dr Norwati Jamaluddin from the Department of Civil Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM), said abandoned buildings — whether unfinished development projects or heritage sites — should not be left to deteriorate. She noted that these neglected structures pose safety risks to the community and spoil the visual appeal of their surroundings. 'Besides their dilapidated appearance, abandoned premises often create hazardous environments, with risks such as collapsing structures due to lack of maintenance. 'They also tend to attract irresponsible individuals who engage in immoral activities such as vandalism, drug use, and other crimes, leading to public unrest in the area,' she told Bernama. Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories), Datuk Seri Dr Zaliha Mustafa, was previously reported as saying that a total of 48 abandoned premises and buildings had been identified around the capital as of Feb 20 this year. She said that, according to the latest records from Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), 25 of them were residential buildings, while the remaining 23 were commercial premises. She added that abandoned buildings are not limited to suburban areas but are also found in high-value commercial areas in the city centre, such as Jalan Bukit Bintang, Jalan Pudu, and Jalan Gombak. 'On Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah (Jalan Ipoh), several commercial residential units have been abandoned, reflecting urban decline or stalled development. Similarly, on Lorong Tiong Nam, many old, rundown shop lots are in poor condition,' she was quoted as saying. According to the National Housing Department, as of May 31, there are 17 static-category abandoned private housing projects nationwide — some dating back to 1989. The department also noted that 45 other projects are in the process of being revived. Apart from private commercial and residential properties, abandoned government-owned premises also contribute to the problem — such as the heritage-status Federal Court building opposite Dataran Merdeka, reported to be abandoned in January. Similarly, the state government office complex on Jalan Changkat Jong in Teluk Intan, Perak — once a bustling centre for official affairs — now stands unused. ECONOMIC VALUE Norwati stressed that abandoned properties drag down surrounding property values and can become an economic burden for agencies, including local authorities. 'Foreign journal reports show that such abandoned properties can reduce the value of surrounding real estate by 6.5 per cent to 20 per cent. 'They also burden local councils through lost tax revenue and increased maintenance, restoration, and enforcement costs,' she added. She also linked abandoned buildings to the Broken Windows Theory, which suggests that visible neglect signals deeper, systemic problems if left unresolved. 'For example, if a structure continues to deteriorate, it could lead to higher losses down the line, especially if it requires complete reconstruction. 'Even if most of these buildings are privately owned, the government's image still suffers due to perceived poor management,' she said, adding that the government should assess whether to reuse, demolish, or rebuild on such sites. GROWING CONCERN Meanwhile, senior lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM), Ar Nasrudin Sharkawi, said the glut of abandoned buildings raises concerns over urban planning, property values, and sustainability in the construction sector. He acknowledged that such stalled projects reflect failures in coordination and implementation within Malaysia's construction industry. 'There are several contributing factors — including impractical designs that ignore local context, resulting in projects failing to attract buyers or tenants even after completion. He added that there could also be issues of non-transparency or weaknesses in project management by developers, including financial problems, labour shortages, internal conflicts among contractors, or failure to obtain technical approval from local authorities (PBT). He also noted that delayed or cancelled funding — particularly for government projects — can leave structures partially built and abandoned. If such projects are later resumed, the cost of completing them is often higher than the original budget due to additional expenses such as repairing damage, vandalism, or theft at unmonitored sites. 'In a free market context, many commercial and luxury residential developments are planned without considering actual market demand, leading to oversupply. When investors fail to see returns, buildings are left empty and, over time, become derelict,' he added. Heritage buildings, he said, face similar issues — caught between preservation and adapting to modern uses. 'This indirectly leads to an oversupply of units that remain unsold or unleased. When investors fail to obtain the expected returns, the buildings are left vacant — and if they continue to be neglected over time without any maintenance, they eventually become abandoned structures, contributing to the physical deterioration of the surrounding environment,' he said. He added that similar issues also affect heritage buildings, which are caught between the need to preserve their historical value and the challenge of adapting them for modern use. In many cases, he noted, efforts to restore such buildings are hampered by various problems, including legal constraints, overly strict conservation guidelines, and a lack of appropriate incentives for building owners. 'Preservation efforts often face legal, bureaucratic, or financial obstacles. Strict conservation guidelines and lack of suitable incentives make it difficult for owners to rehabilitate these structures,' he said. A COMPREHENSIVE SOLUTION Nasrudin called for an integrated, holistic approach from relevant agencies to address the root causes of abandoned buildings. He urged the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (KPKT), state governments, and local authorities to collaborate on a centralised database listing all abandoned buildings and stalled projects. This database should be regularly updated and made accessible to relevant agencies for planning and redevelopment purposes. 'A full audit of each building should also be conducted — assessing the extent of damage, ownership status, and potential for adaptive reuse. Buildings should be categorised for repair, reuse, or controlled demolition,' he said. He also recommended a review of strata ownership and inheritance laws, particularly for buildings owned by multiple parties, which often hinder restoration efforts. State governments, he added, could offer tax incentives, development charge exemptions, or low-interest loans to owners or investors looking to revive abandoned buildings. Public-private partnerships could also be pursued for strategic redevelopment. KPKT is encouraged to draft a national policy promoting the reuse of old or government-owned buildings for new purposes, such as co-working spaces, community centres, cultural venues, or other suitable uses. This aligns with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's proposal to review all unused spaces and buildings owned by government agencies, government-linked investment companies (GLICs), and government-linked companies (GLCs) for potential repurposing. Anwar previously suggested that vacant properties — including former teachers' quarters and abandoned housing — could be redeveloped as shelters for the homeless and hardcore poor. Nasrudin also suggested that local councils could impose penalties on owners who leave buildings abandoned and hazardous to public safety. 'Owners must understand that neglecting buildings for too long negatively affects property value, public safety, and the image of the area. 'In the meantime, interim use can be considered — such as leasing the space temporarily for storage, pop-up shops, art studios, or exhibitions. This could help curb the spread of abandonment,' he added. -- BERNAMA
The Hindu
10-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Forum to conduct social audit of NH 66 project in Kozhikode
The Registered Engineers and Supervisors' Federation (RENSFED) is planning to conduct a social audit of the ongoing National Highway (NH) 66 construction project in Kozhikode district and identify the spots that could pose a threat in the future. It was announced at a seminar on technical and environmental issues associated with the NH construction on Tuesday against the backdrop of several recent instances in which the NH had caved in across the State, especially in Malappuram district. Ahammad Devarkovil, MLA, inaugurated the seminar. A panel of experts, including T.P. Somasundaran and S. Chandrakaran, former heads of the Department of Civil Engineering at National Institute of Technology-Calicut; Suresh Babu N., former head of the Department of Civil Engineering at Government Polytechnic, Kozhikode; and environmental activist Manalil Mohanan, were part of the discussions. The panel claimed that the technology used in the construction of the highway did not fail, but the faults in implementation and supervision had caused the damage in most places. It noted that enough time was not given for the soil at the base to settle down before huge structures were built on it. The companies that carried out the construction should have given due consideration to the flow of water and the geographical peculiarities of Kerala, they noted. 'There are areas similar to Kooriyad in Kozhikode district through which the NH passes. So they are also vulnerable in the same manner. Through the social audit, we plan to bring such issues to the notice of the authorities. It is up to them whether to accept it or not,' said K.K. Sudheesh Kumar, district secretary of RENSFED. Some major defects on the NH that were pointed out in the seminar included lack of drainage in the carriageway, allowing water to fall directly on service roads and unscientific soil nailing without considering the nature of the soil. 'No proper study has been conducted in places where the NH collapsed to determine if the viaducts were suitable there,' Mr. Kumar said.
The Hindu
09-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Beaches cleaned as part of World Oceans Day celebrations
As part of World Oceans Day, various organisations and individuals came together to clean the city's beaches on Sunday. The Ocean Society of India in collaboration with the Department of Civil Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, organised a clean-up drive on the Kovalam beach, with the theme 'Wonder: Sustaining What Sustains Us'. Equipped with gloves and reusable bags, participants removed around 250 kg of plastic waste, discarded fishing gear, glass bottles, and other types of litter from the beach, which will be sent for scientific analysis as part of ongoing research into marine litter and microplastics. Pravakar Mishra, former Scientist-G at National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Puzhgalenthi, inspector of the Coastal Security Group, Tamil Nadu Police, and Shobana Thangam, president of the Kovalam Panchayat, and R. Nagalakshmi, Program Coordinator and Associate Professor were among those present, a press release said. Around 30 volunteers of Greenpeace India came together at Elliot's Beach at Besant Nagar and removed 100 kg of waste. An artwork depicting an Olive Ridley turtle was displayed to highlight the critical role oceans play in sustaining biodiversity, regulating the climate, and supporting coastal communities. 'From the sands of Besant Nagar to the shores of Kerala, the ocean connects us all. Today's clean-up drive in Chennai was not just about collecting waste — it was a moment of collective care, led by local volunteers who know the ocean is their lifeline,' said Yasin Fahmidha, campaigner at Greenpeace India, in a press release. Another release said staff of ibis Chennai SIPCOT and ibis Chennai City Centre and volunteers took part in a beach clean-up drive in collaboration with the Environmentalist Foundation of India. 'Chennai's coast is a vital part of the city's identity, economy, and ecology. Through this initiative, we aimed to not only clean the beaches but also ignite conversations around sustainability and community involvement,' said Tejus Jose, director of operations, ibis and ibis Styles India.
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First Post
07-06-2025
- Science
- First Post
Who is Madhavi Latha, IISc professor who spent 17 years helping build J&K's Chenab Bridge?
The Chenab Bridge, the world's highest railway arch bridge, has been inaugurated. G Madhavi Latha, a professor at Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science, worked on the project as a geotechnical consultant for 17 years. The construction was beset with challenges, but she and her team adopted 'design-as-you-go' approach for the engineering marvel read more The Chenab Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir has been inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The world's highest railway arch bridge, unveiled on Friday (June 6), is an engineering marvel. It is a part of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla rail link project (USBRL), which will provide all-weather rail connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and the rest of India. The Chenab Bridge stands high at 359 metres (1,178 feet) above the Chenab riverbed, 35 metres taller than the Paris' Eiffel Tower. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The construction of the bridge was a major challenge due to the region's harsh terrain. An expert in rock engineering gave her 17 years to help build the 1,315 metres long bridge. But who is she? We will take a look. Madhavi Latha's role in building Chenab Bridge G Madhavi Latha, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at Bengaluru's Indian Institute of Science (IISc), spent 17 years on the Chenab Bridge project as a geotechnical consultant. A specialist in rock engineering, she was roped in by the Northern Railways and the Chenab bridge project contractor Afcons to advise them on slope stabilisation and bridge foundation. This was to ensure the bridge could withstand very harsh natural conditions, including wind speeds of more than 220 kmph. With a lifespan of 120 years, the Chenab bridge can resist high-velocity winds with speeds up to 260 kmph, extreme temperatures, earthquakes, and hydrological impacts if water levels rise. The Chenab bridge's design and construction have been done by a joint venture comprising Afcons Infrastructure, South Korea-based Ultra Construction & Engineering Company, and VSL India. Speaking to Deccan Herald (DH), Latha said, 'IISc was the consultant for slope stabilisation and foundation, whereas foreign firms were involved in making the steel arch. Planning of the bridge started in 2005, and it was completed in 2022 when trial runs with full-speed trains were carried out.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD This unsupported steel arch has a length of about half a kilometre. It rests on the left and right abutments, along with eight piers, on the slopes. During the construction, Professor Latha's team adopted a 'design-as-you-go" approach, meaning they had to adapt in real-time depending on geological conditions such as fractured rocks, hidden cavities, and different rock properties, not evident in early surveys. Last month, the article, Design as You Go: The Case Study of Chenab Railway Bridge, published in the Women's Special issue of the Indian Geotechnical Journal by Dr Latha laid out the challenges that they faced while constructing the bridge over the past 17 years. 'The construction of a civil engineering marvel like the Chenab bridge posed many challenges from planning to completion. A rigid design with fixed dimensions and pre-determined solutions would not have been feasible, considering the continuously evolving geological and geotechnical conditions,' she noted in the article. 'The design-as-you-go approach adopted in this project made the construction of the bridge possible despite the critical challenges encountered in every stage during the 17 years of its construction period,' the professor added. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Due to high rock discontinuities and steep slopes, a major challenge was to construct the Chenab bridge 's arch abutments and foundations for piers on the slopes. The solution found by Latha and other project engineers was to use the technique of cement grouting with pieces of rock and steel rods for reinforcement, reported DH. Who is Madhavi Latha? Professor Madhavi Latha completed her PhD in geotechnical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras. She was teaching at IIT Guwahati before she joined the IISc in 2004. Dr Latha, who was the first female faculty member at IISc at the time, had to fight to get a toilet for women. 'Back then, there were no exclusive toilets for women in the department. There were only men's toilets. I had to really fight to get a women's toilet in the geotechnical engineering building,' IISc says on its website, quoting the professor. Soon after PM Modi inaugurated the Chenab bridge, IISc took to X to laud her, 'We are proud of Prof Madhavi Latha & her team's contribution to the #ChenabBridge inaugurated by Hon'ble PM Narendra Modi. The team worked on stability of slopes, design & construction of foundations, design of slope stabilisation systems, incl. rock anchors to withstand hazards.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD BJP MP Tejasvi Surya also hailed Latha for her contributions to building the Chenab bridge. Congratulating the civil engineer, he wrote, 'Your role in this engineering marvel inspires young minds, especially women in STEM, to lead in nation-building.' Congratulations to Prof. Madhavi Latha of @iiscbangalore for your remarkable contribution to the #ChenabBridge — the world's highest railway arch bridge, inaugurated today by PM Shri @NarendraModi. Your role in this engineering marvel inspires young minds, especially women in… — Tejasvi Surya (@Tejasvi_Surya) June 6, 2025 Latha is currently the Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies (CST). She has won laurels over the years. In 2021, Latha bagged the Best Woman Geotechnical Researcher award by the Indian Geotechnical Society. She also made it to the Top 75 Women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) of India in 2022. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
India Today
07-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
IIT Guwahati develops low-cost way to measure COVID-19 using clay
A research team at IIT Guwahati has come up with a new way to detect the virus that causes COVID-19 -- using clay and salt water. This method doesn't rely on heavy lab equipment or complex tests. Instead, it watches how a mix of clay, virus, and salt water settles over time, a process known as study, led by Professor TV Bharat from the Department of Civil Engineering and Professor Sachin Kumar from the Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, explores the use of Bentonite for sticking to pollutants, this clay also binds with viruses when placed in the right environment -- room temperature and a neutral pH.'Think of it like watching mud settle in a glass of water,' Prof. Bharat explained. 'The way the clay falls can tell us if a virus is there and how much of it is present.'The team tested the method using a virus similar to coronavirus and the Infectious Bronchitis Virus (IBV). They checked the results using existing detection tools like RT-PCR and plaque assays. The clay-based approach gave matching results -- without the need for expensive method could be useful not just for detecting COVID-19 but also other viruses, like those affecting poultry farms. It could be especially handy in places that don't have access to high-end researchers now plan to team up with medical labs and industry players to test this approach on real-world samples. If all goes well, they hope to turn it into a simple field kit for future idea -- watching how fast clay sinks -- could become part of how we deal with virus outbreaks in the future, especially in areas that need quick, low-cost solutions. advertisement
