Jan. 2007

$390,000

Completed

Paktika

Unknown

Project Description

Develop, Implement, Install and Construction an AM Radio Station

Project Goals

Reason for Project: An AM radio station in Paktika is needed because there is currently not any means for information to be delivered to the entire Paktika audience on one station. As the existing FM station in Sharan only reaches a few surrounding districts, the Governor and other GoA officials have little to gain from addressing the people of Paktika using this media. Also, as some districts in Paktika only receive a radio signal from radio stations originating in the Waziristan area of Pakistan, it is important to provide all of Paktika with an Afghan developed and broadcasted radio signal. The new AM radio station will be located in the provincial capital of Sharan and will be able to provide accurate news, interviews, educational programming, information and entertainment to all of Paktika. 

 Desired Project Effects: The desired effect is to improve the understanding of current events and improve the education level of people in Paktika. The station will also help people in Paktika understand the purpose of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan (IRoA) and what services the Government Officials in Paktika provide. Right now many of the people only have local mullahs, elders and radio stations originating in Pakistan to pass them information. Their view of the IRoA is often not positive and the information passed is spun for their benefit.

 Measurable Effects: The measure of effectiveness will be determined by 1) continuous leader engagements throughout the province specifically addressing listener-ship and content satisfaction, 2) broadcasting and operations observations by the PRT to ensure the station is functioning properly and to obtain the news as it is being delivered to the people of Paktika, and 3) encouragement of the GoA to broadcast accurate news to inform and educate the people of Paktika.

Results

Project Effects: Project complete. YES THE GOVERNMENTS MESSAGES CAN NOW REACH THE FAR CORNERS OF PAKTIKA PROVINCE, MAKING THE GOVERNMENT MORE EFFECIVE. THE PEOPLE WELCOME THIS AS IT WILL CONNECT THE TRIBES WITH NEWS AND ENTERTAINMENT

 Followup Inspections: 8

 Evaluation of Success: THE AM RADIO STATION PROJECT IS RECIEVED WITH MUCH ANTICIPATION AND EXCITEMENT FROM THE PEOPLE OF PAKTIKA. IT WILL GIVE THEM AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE PAKISTAN RADIO BROADCASTS. 

 AAR: NO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES TO REPORT WITH THE CONTRACTOR

Updates

Mar 14 2007 2. ASSESSMENT: 

a) Radio Station - Foundation The foundation work has just begun. The contractor is placing a leveling bed (75% complete) for the foundation work. 90% of the radio station building excavation is complete. The site is still quite muddy which makes bringing in material difficult. All excess (spoil) should be removed from building area. Mixing of the leveling bed was done on the ground; all future work will need to be done by machine. 

b) Well Drilling has just begun. 

c) Perimeter Wall Front entrance had to be removed by contractor to begin work and to bring materials in to job site. There is an existing wall.

d) Guard house The foundation for guard house has begun. Foundation is 50% done, unsure of the ability to achieve proper compaction because ground is extremely wet. 

e) TWA There are 6 workers on site.

 Recommendations 

1. Contractor is to perform necessary quality control measures to ensure strength of structural concrete members and the walls.

2. Contractor is to immediately begin using a mechanical concrete mixer.

 

4. SUMMARY: The Paktika AM Radio Station construction is just beginning. The excavation of the building is nearing 90% complete. The guard house foundation is nearly complete. The well is just beginning. The ground saturation remains an issue. Altogether the construction appears to have started quickly and correctly.

 

 BU1 (SCW) BOYD

 ENGINEER TEAM

 PRT SHARANA

 Mar 28 2007 3. ASSESSMENT: 

a) Radio Station - Foundation The foundation work has just begun. The contractor has placed a leveling bed (100% complete) for the foundation work. 90% of the radio station building excavation is complete. All excess (spoil) has not been removed from building area. Mixing of the mortar is taking place in a wheel barrow; all future work will need to be done by machine. Foundation walls have been placed before the columns are in. When the job site supervisor was asked about this, he stated that the engineer was at fault. The stone work has no mortar between the joints and there are stones on stones. All of the stone work is insufficient and should be torn out and replaced. What concrete work that is in place was placed incorrectly. No consolidation and bad mix design. 

b) Well The well drilling machine is gone. No new information at this time. Waiting for word from contractor. 

c) Perimeter Wall Front entrance had to be removed by contractor to begin work and to bring materials in to job site. There is an existing wall.

d) Guard house The foundation for guard house has begun. Same status as the main building, the stone work is insufficient and should be torn out and replaced. The rebar for the columns are going in but they are too close to the existing security wall. 

 

e) TWA There are 9 workers on site.

 Recommendations 

1. Contractor is to perform necessary quality control measures to ensure strength of structural concrete members and the walls.

2. Contractor is to immediately begin using a mechanical concrete mixer.

3. All work above leveling bed in my recommendation is to be removed and then done correctly.

4. Leave someone on site that will take ownership of project. 

 

4. SUMMARY: The Paktika AM Radio Station construction is just beginning. The excavation of the building is 100% complete. However all stone work is not up to standards and should be removed. The contractor needs to understand that the columns go in as one piece and before the stone work. Overlap of RST needs to be watched. Someone on site needs to take responsibility for the work going on. 

 

 BU1 (SCW) BOYD

 ENGINEER TEAM

 PRT SHARANA

 Apr 16 2007 3. ASSESSMENT: 

a) Radio Station - Foundation The foundation work has been completed. Despite the excavation being complete all excess (spoil) has not been removed from building area. Mixing of the mortar is taking place on the ground; all future work will need to be done by machine. Machine on site but not being used. When the job site supervisor was asked about this, he had no response. Before leaving the site the mixing machine had been started. All of the mortar work is insufficient and should be torn out and replaced. Much of the masonry work that is in place has been done hastily. Cracks have already formed along portions of wall segments. On site supervisor stated that those area have been marked for demo and to be redone. No consolidation and bad mix. Poor material being used on site. High priority to be discussed this week with Contractor. 

b) Well Well completed. 

c) Perimeter Wall Front entrance had to be removed by contractor to begin work and to bring materials in to job site. There is an existing wall.

d) Guard house Same status as the main building, the masonry work is insufficient and is being considered for removal pending discussion with contractor. 

 

e) TWA Contractor stated in weekly mtg 20 workers on site. During site visit there were 10 present.

 Recommendations 

1. Contractor is to perform necessary quality control measures to ensure strength of the walls.

2. Contractor is to immediately begin using a mechanical concrete mixer.

3. Much of the masonry work, I recommend is to be removed and then done correctly with a higher quality mortar mix.

4. Leave someone on site that will take ownership of project. 

 

4. SUMMARY: The Paktika AM Radio Station construction is just beginning. The project is now at 45%, however all masonry work is not up to standards and much should be removed. Overlap of RST needs to be watched as well as the rebar spacing. Someone on site needs to take responsibility for the work going on. Contractor is being counseled on all these issues.

 

 NICHOLAS E. MUELLER

 ENGINEER TEAM

 PRT SHARANA

 May 31 2007 1. The contractor was concrete plastering on the interior & exterior of the building (see photos). The quality of plastering was excellent on the project. 

2. The sand being used in the plaster & mortar was right gradation and properly sieved.

3. Improper cement type was being used on the project. The contractor was using elephant brand cement.

4. A couple of interior door openings of the building had wrong height. The contractor was in process of 

making corrections to the door openings. Repairs methods seemed adequate. 

5. Contractor was using hand mixing methods to mix mortar & plaster on the project (see photos)

6. Overall quality of the construction and plastering was good.

 Aug 16 2007 RESULTS OF QA INSPECTIONS AND TESTS, DEFICIENCES OBSERVED, ACTIONS TAKEN AND CORRECTIVE ACTION:

1. Visited the site to observe construction progress on site.

2. No construction work activity on the project. Building construction has been completed on the project.

3. Extensive outdoor construction material clean up still remains on the project.

4. Office furniture has arrived at the site but was being stored in adjacent building.

5. Pipe insulation on the outdoor pipe Iin the building rear needs to be replaced.

6. Extensive earthwork grading and backfilling may be needed in the yard.

7. No workers residing in the building.

8. The interior & exterior of the building has been painted.

9. Observed toilet plugged in the bathroom. It must be cleaned and its working checked before opening the building to public use.

10.. Water tank has not been installed on the building roof yet. Apr 11 2008 Waiting on additional funds request prior to project completion. Nov 29 2010 This project is now certified complete. The plan to install an AM station in Sharana completely stalled in February 2009 due to the contractor's inability to complete the project.

In approximately summer 2010, the Director of Information and Culture for Paktika Province received two FM radio receivers for this project from the BBC in Kabul. The National Voice of Paktika radio station officially went live from a building just outside the Sharana Governor's Compound on 14 NOV 2010. It broadcasts at 93.3 FM, has a 1000 watt antenna, and serves the greater Sharana area. The station can be picked up as far south as KKC.

A BBC repeater also now broadcasts at 89.1. The exact location of the station is 3310'29"N, 6847'25"E. Please see the accompanying storyboard for additional information.

MICHAEL C. HAMMOND

PRT PAKTIKA INFORMATION OPERATIONS OFFICER