# Building was declared unsafe n Chairman says eviction notice will be sent today
the goan I network
VASCO
MMC Chairman Deepak Naik, Chief Officer Deepali Naik and the municipal engineer on Monday inspected the Goa Sahakar Bhandar premises and took stock of the situation, after a portion of the ceiling plaster came crashing down on Friday.
Later speaking to The Goan, Deepak Naik said the council had already declared the building unsafe and had even forwarded a report to this effect to the South Goa collector.
“The management of Sahakar Bhandar is well aware that they cannot carry on business there as the entire plaster of the ceiling has practically fallen off and there is danger to the lives of staff and people visiting the Bhandar,” he said.
“Despite declaring the building unsafe, the management is carrying out their business by putting at risk the lives of their own staff and others visiting the Bhandar for their purchases.”
“The Sahakar Bhandar management is neither willing to pay their outstanding dues of around Rs 50 lakh, so that we can carry out maintenance work of their premises, nor are they ready to increase the rent of such huge premises, which at present is a meagre Rs 5,000 per month,” the MMC chairman added.
The MMC chairman said an inspection of the premises confirmed that it was not safe to carry out business any longer.
“By Tuesday, we will send a notice to the management directing them to leave the premises before any life is lost,” stated Deepak Naik.
“If the management fails to evict from the premises and move to a safer location, the council should not be
held responsible for any major calamity.”
When it was brought to his notice that some council staff also reside in flats above the Sahakar Bhandar, he replied that some of the staff had already left their flats.
There are some staff staying there, but once the Sahakar Bhandar shifts to another location, we can immediately make alternate arrangements for the staff,” he said.
It may be recalled that a portion of the plaster of the office of the Sahakar Bhandar gave way some time between Thursday night and Friday night. There were no injuries as the incident took place during the holiday on Good Friday.
