MAPUSA
Barely days after a ceiling collapse injured a government employee in Pernem taluka, alarming safety concerns have surfaced at the Joint Mamlatdar’s courtroom in Mapusa, where water has been leaking from the ceiling, raising fears of a possible structural failure.
During court proceedings, water droplets were seen falling directly from the ceiling onto litigants and advocates, forcing staff to rearrange furniture, equipment and files to prevent damage to official records.
The situation has caused significant inconvenience and anxiety among those who frequent the courtroom.
Advocates and litigants fear that the soaked ceiling could give way at any moment.
“This is not just about inconvenience any more. If chunks of the ceiling fall, someone could be seriously injured or worse,” said an advocate who regularly appears before the Joint Mamlatdar.
Officials and staff suspect that a washroom located directly above the courtroom is the source of the seepage, with water continuously soaking through the slab.
Visual inspection shows large portions of the ceiling saturated, indicating prolonged leakage rather than a one-time incident.
Advocate Naveen Bhivshet, who practices in Mapusa and frequently appears in the courtroom, criticised the government’s approach to infrastructure maintenance.
“The government always reacts after a tragedy occurs. Why must we wait for someone to be injured or killed? Why can’t there be a comprehensive safety audit of all government offices, especially old buildings where the public regularly visits?” he asked.
The issue has gained urgency in light of a recent incident in Pernem taluka, where a portion of the ceiling collapsed at the Child Development Project Officer (CDPO) office, injuring a clerk and underscoring the deteriorating condition of several government buildings across the State.
Sources said staff of the Mamlatdar’s office have raised verbal complaints with the Public Works Department (Buildings), but no immediate remedial action has been taken so far.
However, a PWD (Buildings) official from Mapusa, whose office is located on the floor above the Mamlatdar’s office, said that an estimate has already been prepared to repair the washroom causing the seepage.
“The proposal has been readied and the repair work is expected to be taken up shortly,” the official said.
Despite the assurance, advocates and staff remain sceptical given the traditionally slow pace of government repair works.
Until the repairs are carried out, employees and members of the public visiting the Joint Mamlatdar’s courtroom are left to function under a leaking roof “ amid growing concern that another avoidable tragedy could be waiting to happen.
