Collector orders sealing of Holy Family House over imminent collapse threat
Authorities erected barricades on the road below Holy Family House building.
Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar
MARGAO
A day after a portion of the Holy Family House building collapsed near Cine Lata—the second time in the last one month—the District Disaster Management Authority has ordered the Salcete Mamlatdar to evict all occupants carrying out various commercial activities on the premises and to seal all access points, including staircases, within 24 hours.
The order issued by District Collector and Chairperson of the South Goa District Disaster Management Authority, Egna Cleetus, IAS, further directed the Margao Police Station to deploy police personnel to assist the Mamlatdar of Salcete in executing this order.
That’s not all. The Traffic Cell in-charge has been ordered to ensure that no vehicles are parked near and around the building premises at any time. The Traffic Cell has been further told to implement all necessary precautionary measures at the site with immediate effect, including cordoning off the affected area and erecting warning signage.
The order has directed the Salcete Mamlatdar to coordinate with local municipal authorities for seamless and expedited execution of the above-mentioned directions, with a further directive to the concerned departments to submit a compliance report to the District Disaster Management Authority, South Goa, upon execution of the directions.
Non-compliance with this order shall attract penal consequences as prescribed under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the Collector warned.
The Collector’s order comes against the backdrop of a report from the Deputy Collector, Margao, stating that the structure is in a dilapidated condition and is likely to collapse, posing a danger to persons occupying the structure as well as those passing by or visiting the building. The report further stated that the structure is used for commercial activity and not for residential purposes. “Frequent spalling of concrete from the slab soffit, external balcony and veranda can cause fatal accidents to visitors and occupants of the building. The building condition is weak and unstable. As such, it is better that the building be demolished safely,” the order stated.
Stating that tenants are occupying the shops on the first floor as well as the ground floor, of which a portion has collapsed, the Collector said the Deputy Collector’s report indicated that the present situation poses a serious risk to nearby property and the lives of the said tenants and visitors/passer-by. “The current condition poses a serious risk to nearby properties and public safety, thus necessitating urgent preventive and corrective action,” the order stated.
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Action after submission of structural audit report
MARGAO: The order to seal the building near Cine Lata, Margao was issued by District Collector Egna Cleetus after receiving an email from Fatima Precy Antao on Wednesday, submitting a safety inspection/structural stability audit of the building, Holy Family House. The report stated that the building’s strength and stability are not satisfactory and that it may be demolished.
