the goan I network
MARGAO
A structural stability test carried out by the Goa College of Engineering in July last had promised a new lease of life for the over five-decade old South Goa Administrator of Comunidade building “ a landmark in the heart of the Commercial capital.
Indeed, hopes were raised that a host of measures recommended by the Engineering College would save the building from crumbling. Sadly, the restoration, repairs and renovation of the seat of the South Goa Comunidade administration is yet to take off for the simple reason that neither the government nor the administration is willing to foot the huge cost of the restoration project.
In fact, a proposal mooted by the office of the Administration of Comunidades to take up the restoration project has come returned from the government. A letter written by Under Secretary, Revenue, Sudin Natu in October last year to the South Goa district Collector stated that the Revenue department did not seek any report in respect of the building belonging to the Administrator of Comunidades, South Zone.
The Under Secretary, Revenue went to the extent of writing to the district Collector, South to direct the Administrator of Comunidades, South to take up the work by making necessary budgetary provision at their level, indicating that the government is not keen and willing to bear the cost of the building restoration project.
Incidentally, the Administrator of Comunidades, South Zone has thrown up his hands on the question of taking up the works. In his letter addressed to the district Collector a month ago, the Administrator Vishal Kundaikar made it clear to the government that the South Goa Comunidades Administrator’s office is not financially sound and therefore unable to take up the repairs of the building.
To substantiate his claim, Administrator Kundaikar drew attention of the district Collector to the fact that the employees of the Administrator of Comunidades have not received their salaries from January 2019 till date, due to lack of funds.
Given this position, the Deputy Collector, South Goa Snehal Prabhu has now asked the Comunidades Administrator to submit a detailed note to the district Collector for onward submission to the government for consideration.
Even as the Revenue department and the Office of the South Goa Administrator of Comunidades, the structural stability test report is confined to the record books of the Collectorate and the office of the Administrator of Comunidades. While hopes were indeed raised that the government would act immediately on the report and allocate funds towards the restoration of the building, questions are now being raised whether the repair work would at all commence before the onset of monsoons.
A glance at the report states that the structural elements of the building are strong enough to take the load and to receive repairs and retrofitting methodologies.
The test had revealed that all columns and beams are structurally strong, while the truss, roofing material and false ceiling were found weak and in need of replacement.
The flooring was found in good condition and the walls strong and safe to take the load.
While the test report had recommended plastering of the building entrance, it has further recommended removal of all slabs. The staircase was found in good condition, externally and internally.
