South district Collector, Egna Cleetus, IAS chairing a crucial meeting to take stock of the status of the dangerous buildings in the commercial capital.
MARGAO
Guess what has stopped the Margao Municipality all these months from executing the orders for the demolition of the two buildings in the commercial capital declared as unsafe buildings?
South district Collector and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority Egna Cleetus, IAS raised a pointed query at a meeting with officials held in the district Collectorate on Tuesday wherein she highlighted critical concerns regarding multiple dilapidated buildings that pose a risk to public safety.
Strange it may seem, but true that the Margao Municipal Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz submitted that the Council lacks sufficient funds, machinery, and technical expertise to undertake the demolition of the two buildings.
After the Chief Officer sought the support from the District Administration to execute the orders on the two buildings, the district Collector issued instructions to the Deputy Collector South I to issue orders to the Executive Engineer, W.D. VIII (Buildings) PWD to execute the demolition of the two buildings.
That’s not all. The District Collector & Chairperson assured that orders would be issued to Executive Engineer, W.D. VIII, (Buildings) PWD, Fatorda to provide the necessary technical expertise and machinery for the demolitions. It was further clarified that recovery of demolition cost will be pursued from the building owners by the Chief Officer or the Mamlatdar.
As far as the Indira apartments is concerned, the Chief Officer submitted that out of 26 occupants, three families are yet to vacate the premises and that the Council lacks sufficient funds, machinery, and technical expertise to undertake the demolition.
In respect of the Cabecca de Calconde building, the Chief Officer and Municipal engineer informed the Collector that the matter is currently under legal challenge in the High Court for non-execution of demolition order issued by the District Collector, South. The CO submitted that only one occupant is still occupying the building, and the same person is expected to vacate soon. Further, it was submitted that, the Municipality does not have adequate resources for demolition and requested for the intervention of the District Administration.
Take note, a citizen Savio Colin Coelho was forced to knock the doors of the High Court after the Margao Municipal Council repeatedly ignored the orders passed by then South Goa Collector, Asvin Chandru in November 2023 to demolish the Cabecca building since the same was declared unsafe in 2023.
The meeting was convened by the district Collector and Chairperson, DDMA in the wake of the collapse of concrete slabs of two buildings in the city during the weekend, triggering a scare amongst citizens and bringing to the fore the long pending issue of how to deal with the dilapidated and dangerous buildings dotting the commercial capital.
