Mormugao Municipal Council building, haven for beggars, vagabonds
Passages used to sleep and also to answer nature's call
THE GOAN NETWORK
VASCO
An administrative building is meant to facilitate citizens and staff working in the offices, but the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) building has become a haven for beggars and vagabonds to seek shelter, day and night.
MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik has now decided to direct the building watchman to lock the doors before ending his shift in the night.
What has annoyed residents and other visitors to the municipal building is the growing numbers of beggars and vagabonds who use the corridors and passages leading to the offices of deputy collector, civil supplies, health center and the excise, either to sleep at night or answer nature's call.
Adding to the concern was the recent presence of a Lamani who inhales whitener or fevicol and harasses young girls and others visiting the offices of the Mamlatdar, deputy collector, civil supplies or the council. The lamani was later picked up by the police and detained at the police station.
Speaking to The Goan, Shekar Desai said the Mamlatdar or the deputy collector should direct the police to depute police personnel to drive away these people, who are creating nuisance in the building.
Another senior citizen, Rusario De Mello, said the area housing the offices of the Mamlatdar, deputy collector and excise smells of human excreta and the officials concerned are turning a blind eye to all the nuisance.
“It looks like Vasco is cursed, as nothing good is taking place here. On the contrary, it is flooded with all sorts of beggars and life at times has become miserable. Neither the politicians nor the police seem to be interested in addressing this nuisance,” said De Mello.
Another citizen, Francis Fernandes, said the Lamani who uses either whitener or fevicol as drug was arrested for thefts on many occasions.
“Once he is under influence of the drug, he harasses the people by demanding money and when he sees young girls he tries to harass them,” said Fernandes.
When contacted, officials from all offices housed in the MMC building claimed they are only the tenants and it was the duty of MMC to clear the mess and maintain the building with proper security guards.
“We are paying rent to the council and we expect cleanliness around our premises, but the surrounding either smells of human excreta or urine. Sometimes, we even find beggars using the passages to sleep and drink alcohol at night, as the doors leading to the passage are not locked and there are no night security guards,” said an official.
When contacted, MMC Chairperson Deepak Naik said the matter was brought to his notice earlier.
“I will direct the watchman to lock both the doors, one from the post office side and the other from deputy collector's side, before retiring from his shift in the night,” he said.
“I will also direct the security guard not to allow any one inside, especially the beggars and Lamani to enter the MMC building during office hours,” added Naik.
