MARGAO
The imposing South Goa Administrator of Comunidade building may get a fresh lease of life as the Comunidades of Salcete on Friday once again volunteered to undertake the repairs to the building, which has been craving for attention for years now.
A three-member repair committee has been set up to coordinate with the Administrator of Comunidades to set in motion the tender process. Given that the monsoons are just two months away, the Salcete Comunidades have called for urgency in taking up the repair work, at least to the roof to prevent leakage during rains.
In fact, representatives of the Salcete Comunidades conveyed a clear message to the Administrator of Comunidades, Deputy Collector John Fernandes that the Salcete Comunidades are all ready and willing to repair the building.
Following the meeting, the Administrator of Comunidades is believed to have written a letter to the South Goa District Collector in respect of the willingness shown by the Comunidades to undertake repairs to the building.
Margao Comunidade President Celestin Noronha told The Goan that the Salcete Comunidades only hope that the willingness shown by the comunidade bodies is taken to the logical conclusion by the government. “We had shown similar willingness to repair the building last year with our own funds. But the government authorities did not show much interest,” Celestin said, adding that the Administrator as well as the Revenue authorities will help the Comunidade bodies to undertake the repairs of the building before monsoons.
Saying that some of the Salcete Comunidade bodies have earmarked funds for the repairs of the building, Celestin said that the building needs to be repaired before the monsoons to plug water leakage. “We have decided to take up the repair work in phases, beginning with the roof to plug the water seepage. The balance work can be taken up simultaneously even during the monsoons”, he added.
Interestingly, it’s now two years since the Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi, had submitted a stability report of the building stating that it is sound and stable and only requires repair to the roof.
Sadly, the report is gathering dust in the record books of the government, with the revenue authorities showing no urgency in taking the recommendations made by the Goa Engineering College to a logical conclusion.
