the goan I network
MAPUSA
The partial collapse of the over 100-year-old building hugging the State highway, in Mapusa on late Sunday night wasn’t unexpected.
What, however, was unexpected was the relaxed attitude of authorities especially as the building posed threat to hundreds of motorists and pedestrians using the thoroughfare.
That not a single person was hurt or there was no damage to property, when part of the structure came down on Sunday night, can be attributed to sheer luck or possibly the hand of God.
The first danger sign about the collapsing structure had appeared a good fortnight ago “ August 14 to be precise “ when the building partially gave way.
It should have compelled authorities to take an immediate action against the building in public interest.
But that wasn’t to be. What followed was the typical bureaucratic procedure with the Mapusa Municipal Council chief officer issuing a series of public notices urging the owner to demolish the building.
MMC Chief Officer Clen Madeira on the very next day of the incident, on August 15, which was a national holiday, issued notices to the three shop owners, the only occupants, in the building to vacate the premises.
Surprisingly, the technical section of the municipality carried out three site inspections “ August 14, 16 and 22 “ of the building.
In his final order, published on August 29 in a local daily, the chief officer directed the owner to demolish the building within 24 hours and in the event he fails to do so, the council would demolish it and recover the cost from the owner.
The partial collapse and threat to motorists and pedestrians was first reported by The Goan on August 17.
A resident of Mapusa and activist, Shekar Naik, had also widely reported about the incident on social media.
Naik blamed the Mapusa Municipal Council for failing to take prompt action in demolishing the building.
“The civic body acted very leisurely. They should have taken immediate action against the structure and demolished as it was threat to public life. It was very obvious that the building would collapse on the main road,” Naik said. According to GOACAN Coordinator, Roland Martins, the circumstances demanded that authority take urgent decision in the matter since the building endangered the life of people as it could come down any moment.
“But who is the appropriate authority to take the decision? Is it the collector, disaster management cell or the municipality that has to take a call? I hope this particular incident will spur the authorities to pin responsibility on matters of urgency,” Martins said.
