Painting work on the heritage Margao Municipal building on hold over the paint specification.
MARGAO
Painting work of the Margao Municipal building, which had raised hopes of a turnaround of the heritage building, has come to a halt, but for a different reason.
The contractor has kept the work on hold after the Municipal officials insisted on painting “Ultima” paint instead of Acrylic Exterior paint, but have so far failed to issue an official order till date.
Resultantly, the work is kept on hold by the contractor with the official order authorising him to use the “Ultima” paint is not forthcoming from the Municipal administration.
Sources in the know informed that the contractor had bagged the painting contract at an estimated cost of around Rs 10 lakh. With the MMC officials now insisting on painting the “Ultima” paint, the cost is expected to go up by an additional Rs 4 lakh.
Against this backdrop, the contractor had last week dashed off a letter to the Municipal Chief Officer to do the rate analysis for this substitute item as requested by the Municipal Engineer. In fact, the contractor had asked the Chief Officer to issue the order at the earliest so that the painting work can be completed within the time limit.
Given the situation wherein the MMC’s official order to use “Ultima” paint is not forthcoming, the contractor has withdrawn the manpower, bringing all painting work on hold. “We are waiting for the MMC nod to use “Ultima” paint since the paint also requires a separate primer. Hence, the painting work has been kept on hold for the moment,” the contractor said, even as fears are being raised in Municipal circles and outside that the delay by the civic body to issue the order to use “Ultima” paint may delay the completion of the painting work.
