MAPUSA
Following the recent controversy over the leaking roof at the Kala Academy, Goa's primary cultural centre, the State Assembly building, the main seat of power, has also been found to be leaking.
The roof has been leaking at several places, including the central assembly hall, library, and various cabins, for the past several years.
Senior officials from the Public Works Department (PWD) have informed that waterproofing work on the roof, costing approximately Rs 2 crore, is nearly complete.
The State Assembly Complex, inaugurated in 2000 by former prime minister late Atal Bihari Vajpayee, has completed 24 years but has shown signs of wear and tear.
Damp patches have appeared on the roof, and water leakage has damaged panelling and walls in several areas.
Sources within the Secretariat revealed that the building's leakage issues stem from its design.
The roof, comprising a dome and flat sections, coupled with an inadequate drainage system, has exacerbated the problem. Water has seeped inside, causing significant damage over the years.
Despite these issues, no structural audit has been conducted on the building to date.
The situation worsened when the central assembly hall's roof began to leak, causing inconvenience to Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) during the monsoon session.
Leakage was also reported in the library, some cabins, and other halls within the building.
In response to the crisis, the government has taken pre-emptive measures by initiating waterproofing of the roof.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Ramesh Tawadkar recently assessed the situation and held meetings with PWD officials. Instructions were issued to immediately undertake the necessary repairs.
Due to time constraints, only the waterproofing of the dome has been completed in preparation for the upcoming monsoon session, which starts in mid-July. The remaining roof work is expected to commence after the monsoon season.
Chief Engineer of PWD Santosh Mhapne confirmed that the waterproofing work is complete, with tile fixing currently underway.
This incident mirrors the recent situation at the Kala Academy, where Minister for Art and Culture Govind Gaude faced criticism from opposition MLAs after the complex started leaking with the first rains.
The leaks in the Assembly building may provide the opposition with further ammunition against the ruling government.
