Cracks and water leaks have already turned up at a museum in the central province of Phu Yen even though the facility has only been open for a year.
Newly built museum deteriorating
Construction on Phu Yen Museum started in late 2011, and cost VND97 billion (USD4.6 million).
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism was the investor for the project while Van Tuong Limited Company and Phu Nhuan Construction Limited Company were responsible for construction.
Because the museum was built to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Phu Yen Province, the first phase was quickly put in use in March 2012, with a few exhibits, even though construction of the entire building was not complete.
However, now the problems with the building have created concern about the construction quality. Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, the museum’s director said, “On rainy days we have to use buckets to catch rain water leaking through the upper floors. I can’t imagine how the concrete was made.”
Due to the water leakage, the wooden floors have already started to rot.
Cracks in the walls
According to Hoa, the project’s contractors recently took some measures fix the floors, but without discussion with the museum’s managing board in advance. The activity forced the museum to temporarily close between June 26 and July 7 to ensure safety.
After being informed of situation, the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the project’s managing board and the contractors conducted an inspection of the site.
They admitted that the floor leaked, there were cracks in the walls, wood floors were deteriorating and some doors had been damaged.
The contractors attributed the situation to technical errors during the building, but the inspection group blamed all stakeholders.
On December 5, the inspection committee of the provincial Party Committee proposed that local government criticise Tran Quang Nhat, former Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism as well as Phan Dinh Phung, secretary of Dong Xuan District Party Committee for their lack of responsibility, causing the museum’s deterioration.
