The report “Life span of KSA building 25 years” (Feb. 25) came to many as shocks including this writer. People who have been living in old buildings are really upset. This is not such a healthy sign for a country, which is on a construction spree using modern technologies. In many Third World countries, there are hundreds of buildings belonging to the colonial period. One should visit those sites, as those buildings are still in good shape and very much in tact. Many of those concrete structures have been declared historical sites by the United Nations.

Unfortunately, this is not the case here in Saudi Arabia. I mean 25 years is nothing. This report should send alarm bells ringing in the relevant departments. A proper investigation into this issue is required and that too on an urgent basis. The authorities must look into the matter seriously and must try to ascertain the reasons behind such poor state of the buildings constructed less than a quarter century ago.

It must be due to shoddy construction techniques and everybody wants to expand the building to accommodate more and more people, they somehow tend to ignore the quality of the materials used in the construction. That is, indeed, very selfish approach.

I do agree with Talal Samarkandi of the SCE that the short life span of buildings is mainly due to poor design and use of cheap quality construction materials. Recently, at one of the construction sites in the city I noticed rusted steel was being used for reinforcement of concrete. How long this building will last, 25 years or less? Your guess is as good as mine!

S.H. Moulana

Riyadh