Construction of a new Sports Health Complex is underway and some residents aren’t happy

By Zaur Huseynov

Zahra Musayeva complains that there were no cracks before the construction began

Baku residents living next door to a new Sports Complex being built by the Ministry of Internal Affairs claim that the construction poses a threat to their lives and health, but an independent civil-engineer says the threat has nothing to do with the construction.

Rena Musayeva, a nurse residing at 27 Nikishin Street of Khatai district near Baku’s City Center, where the construction is underway, says the walls of her apartment have cracks and can collapse at any time. “We live in constant fear. The cracks have appeared in our apartment since the building of the sports complex,” she said.

Zahra Musayeva, Musayeva’s mother in-law, says their family of seven is in danger. “We have moved the kids to other rooms which are relatively more durable. We aren’t concerned about ourselves, but want to make sure the kids are fine,” she said.

Pointing to a crack in the walls of her apartment separating her flat from two neighboring apartments, Tamara Sofiyeva said that this was the result of the new foundation being dug for the neighboring building. “I tell my kids to close the door carefully. The building could collapse and you could be buried under the debris,” Sofiyeva said.

Civil engineer, Mugdat Ahmadov, who inspected four apartment buildings located near the construction, confirmed that the cracks in Zahra Musayeva’s apartment were new. However, he also pointed to what he said was the real cause of the cracks -- not the neighboring construction, but the age of the apartment buildings.

“These apartment buildings were built to last 50 years; however their age has exceeded one hundred years. All the materials have already deteriorated. The problem was already there; the cracks are not the result of the construction of the neighboring building. If a large truck were to stop near these old buildings, the vibration could cause the walls to crack,” he said. Ahmadov emphasized that the materials in the old buildings are disintegrating because of their age and that the cracks surfaced as a result of the new construction.

Construction of the new Sports Health Complex is a concern to the neighors

Upon hearing this news, Zahra Musayeva said her apartment building had endured the 2000 earthquake and they had no problems up until the start of the construction.

Zemfira Hashimova also refuses to accept the opinion of the civil-engineer. “If any civil-engineer says that the cracks have nothing to do with the construction, then I doubt if he is really a civil-engineer at all. Any reasonable civil-engineer would not state such an opinion,” Hashimova said.

Ahmadov, the civil engineer, said that the residents live in a dangerous situation. “The residents should be paid compensation and be moved to another apartment, or buildings should be constructed for them to live here,” he said.

At least five families have complained to the agency in charge of the construction: The Construction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

“After our complaint, the department responsible for the construction reviewed the situation. In September, we were promised that the problem would be solved very soon. They haven’t done anything since then. How long will the apartment building remain in a dangerous situation?” Rena Musayeva asked.

According to Aygun Huseynova, who has been living in that same neighborhood for more than five years, they were promised on several occasions that their apartment would be repaired. “If they are not going to repair it, they should at least pay the money for the incurred damage.” Huseynova stated.

The representative of the press office of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ehsan Zahidov said that the construction of the sport complex was under the direction of the Minister of Internal Affairs. According to Zahidov, seven or eight families who live near the construction site were offered homes in other areas. “Though some of the families wanted to move, they were not able to come to a general agreement,” Zahidov said. He added he did not know whether any or all of these families were offered any sort of compensation.

Homeowner Zemfira Hashimova said the Construction Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs had offered her 1500 manats for one square meter of living space. “But we didn’t agree. We wanted 4000 manats for a single square meter of living space. Then we lowered the amount to 3500 manats. They didn’t agree. According to them, we should give them our apartments and live on the street,” she said.

A spokesman for Eurasia Real Estate Agency, who didn’t want to give his name, said the cost of one square meter of living space in that neighborhood ranges from 830 to 1245 manats, based on land sales in this area. According to the spokesman, 100 square meters of land in this area is worth between 83,000 and 124,500 manats.

Hashimova said the construction department offered homeowners flats in another apartment building owned by the Ministry of Internal Affairs in a settlement called Eighth Kilometer, but she said it was far from the city center. So, she said residents didn’t want to move there. The buildings where they live now are near the city center.

“I have been living here for 25 years. This apartment is my personal property, but there (the new neighborhood) I will have to go through these same procedures again, and besides, the condition of the apartment they’re offering is not good. I don’t want to live in a different district,” she said.

Some residents say they do not believe their complaints will be reviewed by the authorities. “It is no use, even though there are many who complain.” Tamara Sofiyeva said.

However, Zemfira Hashimova said officials from another ministry had recently contacted her about purchasing the apartment building. “Let them do what they want as long as they pay us and we could go and resettle to other areas,” Hashimova said.

Construction of a new Sports Health Complex is underway and some residents aren’t happy

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