Forgotten heritage: Will authorities restore commercial capital’s glory?


MARGAO
Will the authorities shed the apathy and indifference and take up the restoration work of the heritage buildings in the commercial capital – the Margao Urban Health centre and the imposing Margao Municipal building?

A stranger or a first time visitor to the commercial capital may be left to wonder why the urban health centre building’s façade is covered with tarpaulin covers or for that the Margao Municipal building, which looks shabby and the windows covered with plastic sheets.

Well, with the monsoons retreating and the rains subsiding, citizens seemed hoping against hope that the authorities would restore these two buildings to its pristine glory before the next monsoon.

In fact, the 120-year-old Margao Municipal building and the Margao Urban Health Centre has been craving for attention over the last one year and half, but in vain.

Work on restoration of Margao UHC drags on 

On July 8, 2023, the façade of the heritage Margao Municipal building had come crashing down, throwing up questions on the maintenance of heritage structures dotting the commercial capital. Over a year and three months now, work on the restoration of the damaged façade is still dragging on. In fact, the building façade stands covered with tarpaulin sheets, indicating that work on the restoration of the heritage structure is far from over.

The tarpaulin sheets were used to cover the building from rains during the monsoons, only confirming that the authorities had failed to complete the work before the onset of monsoons.

Sources now say the PWD has completed the concrete items and what remains to be done is the plastering and adding aesthetics to the building. “If the government had a will, the work would have been completed before the onset of monsoon. But, work on the restoration costing around Rs 10 lakh just dragged on for months for reasons best known to the government authorities,” sources added.

GSUDA consultant preparing ground work at MMC building

The Margao Municipal Council has been craving for attention over the years with rain water seepage into the heritage structure an annual feature during the rains. Given the magnitude of the work and the cost involved, the Margao Municipal Council had proposed to the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) to take up the repair, renovation and restoration of the heritage building.

Against this backdrop, Tuesday saw staff and officials of the GSUDA consultant preparing the ground work at the Municipal building. The consultant’s staff were seen taking measurements of the massive walls and the iconic Municipal hall before preparing the estimates for the restoration work.

A senior GSUDA official told The Goan that the agency has roped in the same consultant who had executed the work of renovation of the Mormugao Municipal building. “After the consultant prepares the estimates, the same will be submitted to the Margao Municipal Council for approval. Let the MMC take a call on the funding of the heritage building,” the agency added.

The official, however, hastened to add that it will take huge amount of time to complete the renovation and restoration work. “Since the MMC building is a heritage structure, we cannot rush with the renovation and restoration work. The consultant has to first prepare the estimates before the tender is floated after receiving the MMC approval. This process will consume lot of time,” he added.