Councillors at meeting root for brick-red paint; suggestion to approach business houses to sponsor painting work, and in turn give them advertisement rights for a fixed period
MARGAO
With the 118-year heritage municipal building in a shabby state for want of a coat of paint leave alone repairs and renovation, Margao councillors have rooted for the return of the brick-red paint on the heritage building.
There’s, however, a big catch – when? For, neither the proposal for repairs and renovation of the Municipal building is likely to see the light of day in the immediate future nor it’s clear whether the civic body will paint the building departmentally or with sponsors from business houses.
While the resolution adopted at the Council meeting held on Tuesday has raised hopes of a heritage building getting a fresh coat of paint, a similar resolution adopted by the Margao Municipal Council exactly six years ago in June 2018 had gone abegging for reasons unknown.
In fact, just imagine a situation when a heritage building craving for a fresh coat of paint six years ago is still waiting for the A Class Municipality to carry out painting of the structure.
When the painting of the Municipal building came up for discussion at the Council meeting held on Tuesday, civic chief Damu Shirodkar was candid enough in saying that he has proposed painting of the MMC building since it may take time for the repairs and renovation project to take shape.
“The building looks very shabby. The heritage structure is craving for a coat of paint. The original proposal is to repair and renovate, besides painting of the structure. The Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has appointed a consultant who had done renovation of the Mormugao and Mapusa Municipal buildings. But, the proposal is at the infancy stage. Even the estimates are not prepared. In this respect, it will be better if the building is painted since it is in a shabby condition,” remarked Chairperson Damu Shirodkar.
Ex-MMC Chairperson Lyndon Pereira wondered why the MMC failed to paint the building when a decision to this effect was taken by his Council in the year 2021 with a proposal to paint the building with the original brick red colour.
Councillor Shagun Naik supported the proposal for the return of the brick red-terracota colour on the Municipal building. He suggested to the Chair to complete the painting work before the popular Dindi festival.
Former chairperson Ganashyam Shirodkar came out with a suggestion to approach business houses to sponsor the painting work, and in turn give them advertisement rights for a fixed period.
Ganashyam’s suggestion found favour with the councillors, as it promises to save Municipal funds, but questions are raised how much would it take for the civic body to scout for sponsors and at what cost.
