The collapse of a false ceiling at the Peddem Indoor Stadium in Mapusa on Tuesday once again highlights the deteriorating condition of Goa’s sports facilities. This incident serves as a stark warning regarding the extent of neglect and inadequate supervision affecting Goa’s sports facilities. Had the collapse happened during busy hours, when athletes and students are engaged in training or competitions, the outcome could have been disastrous.
The incident raises a significant concern about the safety of athletes and students who regularly train at these venues. Despite being renovated only two years ago for the 37th National Games, the ceiling’s failure raises questions about the construction quality, maintenance practices, and the accountability of those responsible for maintaining sports infrastructure. The event highlights the urgent need for comprehensive safety inspections, rigorous quality control measures, and a proactive approach to maintenance—all of which seem to be glaringly absent.
The responsibilities of the Sports Authority of Goa (SAG) and the Sports Department come into sharp focus in this situation. As custodians of these facilities, they must take responsibility for their roles. It is crucial for SAG to undertake a detailed investigation into the collapse, pinpointing failures—whether attributed to poor workmanship, inferior materials, or structural deficiencies. This is criminal negligence. The contractor involved in the works should also be held responsible and face the consequences. Public infrastructure, particularly that is used by young students, must not be jeopardized by profit-driven shortcuts. The government’s inability to guarantee durability and safety reflects a total failure in sports infrastructure.
The situation of poorly maintained sports facilities goes beyond Peddem. The Manohar Parrikar Indoor Stadium in Navelim faces issues such as leaking roofs, water damage, and warped floors, which have resulted in injuries to athletes. Temporary solutions have failed to resolve the underlying problems, meaning the facility’s declining state endangers both the safety of players and the quality of sporting events. Likewise, the renowned Shyama Prasad Mukerjee stadium in Bambolim is affected by waterlogging and leaks, further illustrating the neglect of indoor sports areas.
The Chief Minister’s comment in the recently concluded Assembly session that only 10 out of the 153 sports venues in Goa are operational reveals an imbalance between requirement, planning, and resource allocation. It raises two crucial questions: Has the government thoroughly evaluated the infrastructure needs for sports development? And has it factored in the costs of maintenance and repairs? Simply building facilities without a viable maintenance strategy is bound to lead to deterioration, as visible in the current predicament.
The Peddem ceiling collapse is another case of the poor handling of sports facilities. The government may be boasting of the sports infrastructure it has raised over the years, but such instances beat hollow the objectives. If we are serious about sports and sportspersons, the sports department must ensure their welfare by creating an ecosystem in line with other states. There can’t be compromises on facilities; it defeats the purpose. There has to be responsible management and accountability to foster a vibrant sports culture that is safe, sustainable, and inclusive. The time for excuses has ended; what is needed is decisive action. Former Sports Minister Govind Gaude, who has faced flak over the collapse of ceilings elsewhere and “sub-standard” work, must explain.
