MARGAO
Less than 24 hours after Friday’s collapse of a building slab in the congested new market area, another concrete slab of an old building came crashing down in the wee hours of Saturday near the busy Cine Lata locality.
The crumbling buildings have only sent a message to the authorities as well as powers that be that all isn’t well with the old and dilapidated buildings dotting the commercial capital.
The incident came to light on Saturday morning when passers-by came across concrete debris scattered on the road leading to Cine Lata. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident and there was no destruction to property like Friday’s incident.
A close look at the ground-plus-one building shows that the wall of the gallery crashed, bringing down cables entangled to the building.
Margao Municipal Councillor Raju Naik, who had gone to Cine Lata side for some personal work, alerted Margao Civic Chief Damu Shirodkar and others over the collapse.
As news of the incident spread across the city, the Margao traffic police closed the road going to Cine Lata near the laundry. On Friday, the traffic police had shut the road leading to Gandhi market and New Market after the slab of the Old Bank of Baroda building collapsed.
Deputy Collector Ganesh Barve along with other officials rushed to the site to take stock of the situation. He told officials to shortlist a contractor to undertake the work of removing the loose concrete from the slab as a precautionary measure. “Our officials are taking measures to ensure the building does not pose danger to passers-by and motorists. We will take further action as and when required”, he said.
Margao municipal workers were deployed in strengthen to clear the debris fallen on the road.
Margao Civic chief Damu Shirodkar along with councillors also rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation. MMC Chief Officer Melvyn Vaz too rushed to the city to review the situation.
The chief officer told The Goan that he would issue notice to the owner of the Old Bank of Baroda building as well as the owner of the building whose slab came crashing down on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Margao MLA Digambar Kamat, who inspected the spot, later issued instructions to the authorities to take on board a contractor, who has the technical knowhow and wherewithal, including breakers, gas cutters etc to clear debris. “The authorities will have to engage an expert agency to handle such matters. Margao municipal workers can be deployed to clear the debris fallen on the roads”, he added.
