MARGAO
Ahead of the planned meeting with PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral, components of South Goa Comunidades on Wednesday raised a host of queries on the repairs and restoration of the dilapidated South Goa Administrator of Comunidade building located in the heart of Margao.
Representatives of Comunidade components led by Savio Corriea and Celestin Norohna and others sought to know from the Communidade Administrator, Joao Fernandes “ whether the tenants who had vacated the dilapidated building will return back to claim tenancy rights after the six-decade old building is restored and renovated by the Comunidades components.
Another pertinent question put up before the Comunidade Administrator is how could the Comunidade Administrator and the government assume that the components would contribute the funds for the repair and renovation work when the general body and shareholders are yet to discuss the nitty gritty of funding the repair work.
Claiming the land where the imposing building of Comunidade Administrator stands today belongs to the local Comunidades, the components sought to know whether the government will earmark or reserve any place for the components inside the building after its repair and restoration.
President of Margao Comunidade Savio Corriea made it plain clear that the Comunidade bulding belongs to the Comunidades of Salcete and the Administrator was functioning from the building as a trustee. He and Celestin pointed out that while components had in the past contributed funds to the Administrator for the upkeep and maintenance of the building, the money was invested in fixed deposits, contributing to the present state of affairs of the building.
Pointing out that the building was in the past occupied by government departments such RTO, deputy Director of Panchayats, besides Agriculture just to name a few, the components demanded to now details of the rent collected by the Comunidade Administrator and whether these departments had any lease documents in their possession occupy the building.
Savio Corriea sought clarity on the issue of tenancy rights from the Communidade Administrator. “The minutes of the previous meeting shows the tenants had vacated the building due to the deteriorating condition of the premises. It implies the tenants have vacated the premises because of the fear of the collapse of the building. This shows the tenants will return back once the building is repaired and renovated”, he said.
He added: “There ought to clarity on the tenancy aspects. Someone has to answer the question whether the tenants have vacated the premises and given up their rights forever or will they return back once the components undertake the repairs. There cannot be third party rights of the building. We should be told who will stop the tenants if they return back after the repairs since we will be funding the repair work”.
Pointing out that the Comunidades are owned by the members and the shareholders, the components drew attention of the Administrator that the government cannot assume that the components will fund the repair work without taking the nod of the general body and the shareholders.
Given that the PWD has drawn up a tentative estimate of around Rs 2.83 crore to repair the building, the components wondered whether the Administrator expects only the four comunidades of Verna, Nagoa, Margao and Loutolim to fund the work or all the 90 comunidade bodies spread across South Goa. “The exact amount to be contributed by each of the Comunidades of Salcete needs to be apportioned and approved by the general body”, Savio added.
