the goan I network
MARGAO
The heritage Camara Municipal de Salcete building “ which was the seat of municipal power during the Portuguese era “ showed signs of crumbling
yet again.
A portion of an inner wall of the heritage building came crashing down and laterite stones were found strewn inside the heritage structure.
Local residents feared that the entire structure could come crashing down for
want of upkeep and
maintenance.
A resident Vitorino Tavares made a strong plea to the government to either restore the heritage structure or take a call, fearing that the structure may come down and cause damage to life and property around.
“If you see the loose stones strewn inside the building, it is clear that the inner wall has collapsed. The entire heritage structure can come down in the future if the government does not take any action,” Vitorino feared.
Hopes were raised around two years ago that the heritage structure may get a fresh lease of life after the Margao Municipal Council adopted a resolution to use surplus unspent development funds to acquire the Camara building lying in ruins over the
decades.
Hopes were further raised when then TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had announced that the Camara Municipal de Salcete building has been bestowed with heritage status.
A Spanish-based architect had even inspected the century-old building, raising further hopes on the restoration of the historic building.
Sources in the corridors of the Margao Civic body, however, said the proposal to acquire the old municipal building had hit a block after the authorities could not obtain a nod and an NOC from the land owner.
Information reveals that though the old Margao Municipal Council had operated from the heritage building, ownership of the building is in the hands of a private owner.
Around nine years ago, the then Council had adopted a resolution to acquire the heritage building with a proposal to restore its pristine glory, but the file never moved forward for want of funds and was literally confined to the record books of the Municipality.
A couple of years ago, the Municipality had issued notices to the tenants occupying the ground floor of the building on the plea that the building poses danger to life and property.
The MMC move, however, was opposed tooth and nail by historians and conservationists who suspected that the Civic body had issued the notices only with a view to facilitate the demolition of the heritage structure to make way for a commercial centre.
