MARGAO
The imposing South Goa district Collectorate building will finally undergo major maintenance at a cost of Rs 97 lakh as the PWD has decided to look after the upkeep and maintenance of all government buildings in the State.
PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral said the maintenance of the Collectorate building has been tendered at a cost of Rs 97 lakh, which will take care of the long-pending maintenance work. “The PWD has already tendered the work and the file has gone for expenditure sanction. Work should hopefully start by mid-January,” he said.
Announcing that the government has now decided to look after the upkeep and maintenance of all government buildings, Cabral said the old system of the head of the department approaching the government to take up the work has been changed. “Henceforth, maintenance of all buildings, be it the Collectorate building or the government school buildings, they will be looked after by the PWD,” he said, adding the government has now provided a separate budget head for maintenance of buildings.
Saying that he has got the GSR rates changed after taking over the reign of PWD office, Cabral said contractors used to shy away from taking up the work of government buildings.
Saying he want to do work in the PWD for the next five years, Cabral said roads, water pipelines and government buildings will be looked after by the PWD. “You will see the difference in the PWD in the next 2-3 years,” he said.
Saying that around 450 vacancies of engineers are presently lying vacant in the PWD, Cabral said the government has plans to fill up the vacancies at the earliest.
The PWD Minister has vowed to provide potable water to the consumers minimum 4-5 hours a day, saying the next target before him is to provide water supply 24x7.
