MARGAO
Citizens seemed racing against time to complete the age-old practice of repairing tile-fitted house roof tops ahead of the ensuing monsoons.
With couple of days left for the monsoons to set in, the markets have been bustling with activity as evident by the rush of people to procure plastic material.
The scene at the Margao Municipal building is no different. Work is underway to protect the heritage building with rain wear, in a bid to stop rain water from seeping into the building through windows and passages.
Just a casual look at the 118 year old building would reveal that the windows of the imposing structure have been covered with plastic sheets.
In fact, almost all the windows, especially along the building rear side are now dotting with white plastic material, once again bringing to the fore the apathy and indifference of the Margao City Fathers and the Powers that be controlling the A Class Municipality to attach importance to the heritage structure.
Whether the front portion of the heritage building too will be covered with plastic sheets remains unknown, but the western side adjoining the Chamber of the Margao Civic Chief has been covered with the protective rain wear.
Questions, however, remain unanswered “ how the Civic body will stop the rain water seepage into the building via the roof, which sources said has been awaiting repairs for a long time now. In the last two monsoons, rain water had entered the taxation section around the chambers of the Administration-cum-Accounts Officer and the Accounts and Taxation officer, with staff placing buckets to collect it.
When The Goan contacted Margao Municipal Chairperson Damu Shirodkar to shed light on the measures initiated by the Civic body to plug water seepage into the heritage building, he said temporary measures are being put in place ahead of the monsoons.
Damu, however, hastened to add that though he had drawn up plans to carry out major repairs of the building, the same had to be deferred in view of the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA), planning to spruce up the imposing building. “Right now, the Civic body is on the job to cover the windows and passages with plastic sheets. If possible, our workers will take up repairs to the leaking roof”, he said.
Renovation of the heritage Margao Municipal Council, which has completed 118 years recently had been hanging fire for around half a decade ago. The GSUDA was scheduled to take up the renovation work along with the beautification work of the historic Lohia Maidan.
Another attempt to give the shabby building a coat of paint around two years was mired in controversy after the entire tendering process had come under the scanner of the Goa Lokayukta.
Senior GSUDA officials have informed that the Agency will take up the renovation and beautification work of the Margao Municipal building a la the Mormugao Municipal building at an estimated cost of around Rs 3-4 crore.
