The tragic elevator incident raises some basic questions about the safety of elevators in buildings all over the country, including the mushrooming high-rise structures. Who is to be blamed for the Souq Najada incident? It was sheer negligence on the part of those responsible for the maintenance of the elevators in the Souq. The question arises as to who in the government is eventually responsible for monitoring the safety of elevators. Are there any standards and specifications governing the elevators? Are routine checks conducted on elevators in the buildings all over the country to ensure they are in perfect condition and not exposed to wear and tear? If so, is it the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning or is it the Civil Defence or any other authority whose responsibility it is to ensure regular and close monitoring of the elevators in all the buildings in the country. Elevators are a means of transport. They are akin to a car or a tram or bus as they also transport people. So the question is, if cars and buses are subject to routine checks for road worthiness, why elevators are ignored? Why their quality should be ensured only at the time of installation? What happens afterwards? Who will ensure they are worth a ride years after installation? In the West, elevators are checked by inspectors routinely and certificates in the form of stickers are put for public view. The inspectors could be from maintenance companies but these maintenance firms are all government-certified and their men are qualified enough to check the elevators. In Qatar, there are elevator maintenance firms too, but whose certifications they carry, is a question which needs to be answered by the authorities concerned. And whether there is official supervision on these firms and whether they are closely monitored is also a key question that needs an answer. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=September2009&file=Local_News200909221363.xml

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