A day after inferno, structural stability test to decide fate of Dawood building in Margao

That’s not all. In the event the structural stability test comes positive, a decision has been taken to raze down the top floor of the building, which bore the brunt in Wednesday’s fire, and cover the roof with asbestos sheets.

Another decision taken during discussions between the Margao MLA and the district Collector was that officials of the Power Department will conduct a survey of the number of power meters and connections issued by the department to the building.

Given that this exercise will consume at least a week, the administration has offered to temporarily rehabilitate the beleaguered residents at the Nehru stadium with provision for food and meals if they are willing to shift to the stadium. The residents have been given option to stay with their relatives during the pendency of the exercise. A request was made to the Collector to issue a letter to an organisation to shelter the residents in the interim period.

Margao MLA Digambar Kamat told the media that the fate of the Dawood building will now hang on the structural stability test report to be conducted by the Goa College of Engineering. “If there’s no problem regarding the building stability, the top floor will be razed down and covered. All would depend on the stability report,” he said.

Displaced residents question long-term plans as authorities plan short-term rehab

MARGAO: At least for the next 7-8 days till the building structural stability is submitted by the Goa College of Engineering, the Dawood building will be out of bounds for the inhabitants.

What’s next, however, is a question that has come to haunt the beleaguered residents, especially the women folk, many of whom have been putting up in the building for decades.

In fact, a woman, who sustained major damages in Wednesday’s fire, sought to know from Margao MLA Digambar Kamat in the presence of South district Collector, Egna Cleetus, the fate of the family after 2 day or five days or after a month. “Today, you are ready to make available accommodation at the Nehru stadium or any other place with provision for food, but what about tomorrow, day after tomorrow or after a week or a month. Where are we supposed to go if the stability report comes negative? Where will we all go in such circumstances,” the woman sought to know.

Cause of fire still a mystery after 24 hrs

MARGAO: The cause of the massive fire in the decades-old Dawood building still remains a mystery even 24 hours after the inferno gutted the building top floors.

For, if sources are to be believed there’s no official meter connection on the building top floor and whether anyone had taken any connection from the second floor to the third floor which could have resulted in short circuit.

In fact, the cause behind the fire incident remains unknown till date. Margao Deputy Collector Ramesh Gaonkar told The Goan that his office has written to the Power officials to ascertain the cause of the fire.

Fire Officer, Gill D’Souza, who had told the media there was end to end fire on the building top floor, said his office is sending a letter to the Electricity Department to find out the cause of fire.

Questions raised over business activity in ‘unsafe’ building even after stability test

MARGAO: A day after the fire at Dawood building, structural stability test rent the air in and around the ill-fated building on Thursday, with Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, district Collector, Egna Cleetus, Deputy Collector, Ramesh Gaonkar, Margao civic chief Damu Shirodkar and MMC Chief Officer, Melvyn Vaz, all harping on the structural stability test to ascertain the fate of the building.

Welcome to the Isidore Baptista Road in the Commercial Capital, wherein a multi-storeyed building which was declared “unsafe” by the Goa College of Engineering over a decade ago is not only standing tall, but business activity goes on as usual in the building ground floor right under the nose of the BJP-controlled Margao Municipal Council.

That’s not all. With the Margao Municipal Council and the demolition squad, Margao dragging their feet in the demolition of the unsafe building, a citizen Colin Coelho has knocked the doors of the High Court seeking justice over the inaction.

Consider this. On November 13, 2023, then South Goa District Collector Asvin Chandru, IAS had issued directions to the Margao Municipal Chief Officer to demolish the “unsafe” building as per the structural stability report submitted by the Goa College of Engineering.

The MMC, however, virtually sat on the Collector’s directions, even as the district Collectorate sent reminders after reminders to the MMC to execute the directions, but in vain.

Around-mid 2024, then Chief Officer Gaurish Sankhwalkar got back to the district Collector, saying the civic body does not have sufficient workforce to carry out these types of specialised works. Couple of months later, the Chief Officer withdrew the licence issued to the business activity in the unsafe building, but the issue did not end there.

After the withdrawal of licence, many thought the MMC would stop the business activity in the building in the interest of safety of people visiting the “unsafe” building, but in vain.

It’s still unclear whether the business activity in the unsafe building did not come to the notice of the MMC team drafted by civic chief Damu Shirodkar to unearth unsafe building during its drive to unearth business establishments operating sans trade licence, or whether the civic body preferred to turn a blind eye to the activity for reasons best known to the BJP-controlled Council and the Powers that be.

Many a question remains unanswered “ why did the Margao Municipality, including the technical section, move with alacrity to act on the structural stability report till date? Inaction by the MMC had prompted the district Collector, who is also the Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority, to issue directions to the MMC to demolish the building, but the MMC literally dragged its feet to act on the stability report and the Collector’s directions till date.