CANACONA
Two municipal buildings and the Canacona Community Health Centre’s (CHC) residential quarters are among the seven buildings in Canacona municipality on the verge of collapse, posing a serious threat to life.
Incidentally, the condition of these buildings have been deteriorating since the past many years and files pertaining to some of these buildings have been lying with authorities, including the Canacona Municipal Council (CMC), Dy Collector, and Mamlatdar, with no concrete solution for the last three years.
The walls of at least two buildings have been giving away during the monsoons, and a terrace/parapet of an old residential-cum-commercial municipal building has even fallen.
It is, however, learnt that authorities are unable to act immediately as some of these private buildings are embroiled in litigation.
The municipal residential-cum-commercial building next to the church, another building next to municipal garden, a private building right across the NH-66 near Margao Bus-Stop, another building across the Ponsulem Road, besides the CHC quarters near the old CHC building in the CHC compound are amongst the dilapidated buildings on the verge of collapse.
Following public apprehensions and court directives, the CMC in December 2023 had, through the Goa Engineering College (GEC), conducted stability tests of five old buildings including one of its own building.
Then CMC Chairperson Ramakant Naikgaunkar had also earlier warned that if GEC experts declare any or all of these buildings unsafe or unfit for occupation, the trade licenses of the businesses from these buildings would not be renewed or revoked.
He had also stated that if any of these five buildings are likely to damage or cause harm to public and other properties, they would be considered for demolition.
Following the last week pre-monsoon rains, the walls of a private building at Chaudi further crumbled down, compelling a local resident Shankar Naik to appeal the Disaster Management Authority to act upon without delay.
“As it has happened for the last 2-3 years, the walls have again begun to crumble after pre-monsoon rains. This building is on the verge of collapse, and I have already informed the CMC, Dy. Collector and if it collapses, it will fall on my house,” said Naik.
“The GEC has even declared this building unfit and asked to demolish and remove it, but it is still left unattended. Rainwater has entered the building, and we really don't know when disaster will strike. We live in constant fear. Will authorities open their eyes only after some lives are lost,” asked Naik.
