PANAJI
Several government departments and commercial occupants of the ageing Junta House building in Panaji have asked for more time to vacate, even though a demolition order has been issued due to safety concerns.
The 60-year-old complex was declared unsafe after a Public Works Department (PWD) audit and was supposed to be cleared by August 2. But with no alternative premises available, many occupants appealed to the Corporation of the City of Panaji (CCP) and even approached the High Court of Bombay at Goa for relief.
On July 3, North Goa Collector and District Disaster Management Authority Chairperson, Ankit Yadav, had directed the Goa Administrative Department to evict all occupants and complete the evacuation within 30 days. A compliance report was to be submitted by August 2, but the deadline has already passed with several offices and shops still operating in the building.
The PWD report flagged the Registrar of Societies office on the fourth floor as having “serious structural defects” such as falling plaster, exposed and corroded steel rods, which pose a danger to occupants and visitors.
A joint inspection by officers from the Sub-Division Office, Fire Services and the Registrar’s office also confirmed major damage, including falling ceiling plaster, damp interiors and a corroded RCC column.
Earlier, on May 23, the Collector had asked the PWD for an urgent structural assessment. Based on the findings, the Collector concluded that repairs would not be feasible, leading to the demolition order.
Junta House still accommodates several government offices, while the ground floor is occupied by commercial establishments.
During the recent monsoon session of the Legislative Assembly, Urban Development Minister Vishwajit Rane said Panaji has the highest number of unsafe buildings in the State, listing 26, including Junta House and government quarters at St Inez.
