VASCO
Vasco witnessed a frightening incident on Friday morning when two balconies of Happy Apartments collapsed. Fortunately, no one was injured in the mishap, though a two-wheeler parked in the basement of the building sustained damage.
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, along with councillor Shami Salkar, rushed to the spot and alerted authorities including the Mamlatdar, Traffic Cell and Fire Brigade. Officials quickly arrived to assess the damage.
Calling for accountability, Salkar said, “It is high time owners of dilapidated buildings are held responsible, and liability fixed. Many of these structures are abandoned, yet they pose a huge risk to residents and passersby.”
He pointed to a vacant, crumbling building near the Vasco police station that could collapse anytime. “Hundreds use that road daily. I have raised this issue multiple times in the Assembly, urging strict action and a clear policy,” he said.
Salkar urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to initiate immediate demolition of unsafe structures. “The government can demolish such buildings, seal the area and recover costs with penalties from owners. Today’s incident is an eye-opener. Thankfully, due to Ganesh Chaturthi, no one was present, or we could have seen a tragedy,” he remarked.
The MLA stressed that owners of unsafe properties must bear liability and provide compensation in case of mishaps. He further urged residents to make use of the new FAR scheme offering 300 FAR for redevelopment. “People should prioritise safety over profits. Builders and owners must take advantage of the scheme rather than risk lives,” he added.
Highlighting government-owned structures, Salkar said several MMC and PWD quarters in Vasco too are in poor condition. “Slab collapses have already been reported. These must be replaced with new constructions through PPP or other models,” he noted.
He warned that, “unless demolition begins immediately, a major tragedy is only a matter of time. Public safety must be the top priority.”
Friday’s collapse has once again thrown the spotlight on the dangers of abandoned and neglected buildings in the port town, pressing the need for urgent intervention.
