VASCO
Safety is expected to be given top priority, but several shops and commercial establishments in Vasco are operating in structures declared unsafe by the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) and some shops even operate with trade licenses issued by municipal authorities.
One of these establishments, the Goa Sahakar Bhandar, is operating in unsafe and unhygienic premises, posing a grave risk to staff and customers. But the supermarket attracts huge crowds during festive offers and discounts, o
There are other shops operating in many buildings declared unsafe by MMC, but shopkeepers insist on some leniency to operate in the premises till a builder redevelops these buildings.
"We have invested our life's savings in buying our shops. The MMC has declared the building unsafe and has sent us notices. We cannot afford to buy new premises now, nor do we have alternate arrangements," said a shopkeeper on anonymity.
"We are told the building will be redeveloped, but builders refuse to give us the same area as they have to earn a profit. We do business in risk and fear of a tragedy, but we have to work as we have families to feed. We operate with trade licences renewed by municipal authorities."
"We can't fight MMC, nor can we agree to the builder's conditions. We cannot even stop running our businesses. We are in a bad state and only God can save us," the shopkeeper lamented.
Vasco-based social activist and advocate Savio Correia has said while dilapidated structures are a serious concern in Vasco, authorities simply cannot overlook the social aspect of evicting residents and shopkeepers from unsafe buildings.
"The Mormugao Municipal Council is doing its job of sending notices as per law, but there is also a social aspect to this issue. After all, residents and shop owners have to move out after investing their life's savings in purchasing premises in the building," explained Correia.
"The government must take a holistic approach for a win-win situation to all those involved. The
MMC can benefit in terms of revenue and complying with legal requirements, residents and shop owners can get their investments secured and builders can make a decent profit from the redevelopment."
"The public can also benefit from redevelopment as parking issues
can be sorted out, since most of these old buildings had no parking facilities and it was not a law when these buildings were built."
"I have heard that regulations are being taken up to increase FAR specifically for redeveloping dilapidated structures in Panaji. I feel a new law or regulation ought to be made specifically for such structures all over Goa," Correia added.
MMC will act if shops function
illegally: MMC chief officer
VASCO: Admitting there were many dilapidated and unsafe buildings in Vasco, Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) Chairperson Deepak Naik has said the council will not renew trade licenses of shops in unsafe buildings and would act against those found operating illegally.
Reacting to claims that some of MMC's own staff quarters are unsafe, Naik said: "Our Municipal staff quarters have been declared unsafe and we have already vacated the staff. The Goa Sahakar Bhandar also was served an eviction notice as they operate from an unsafe locality, but they filed a case and matter is sub-judice," said Naik. "Some shops are still operating from unsafe buildings. Their trade licenses are not renewed and there is no way we will renew them further, if they were renewed before the building was declared unsafe. If shops are running illegally, we will send our inspectors and take strict action," Naik added.
Govt must redevelop unsafe
buildings, says Builder
VASCO: Claiming that redevelopment of unsafe buildings is a complex issue, Vasco-based builder and re-developer Nazir Khan has said the government should initiate a plan to redevelop unsafe buildings, to benefit all those involved in the redevelopment process.
Khan added that the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) should take action against occupants of dilapidated houses and shops in buildings declared unsafe, to avoid any possible tragedy.
"A tragedy is waiting to happen. I wonder why MMC is not taking action to vacate occupants of shops and houses, as many buildings are unsafe in Vasco," said Khan.
He, however, pointed out that the MMC must look forward to a settlement with the affected shopkeepers and residents.
"They have invested a lot to buy flats and shops. No one should be in loss, but at the same time we cannot afford to risk operating from buildings that could collapse any day," Khan added.
"Though we sympathise with these residents and shopkeepers, a builder also has costs to incur while redeveloping property and may not be able to offer the best deal to owners.
