MARGAO
The imposing South Goa Collectorate building is crying out for urgent attention on the repair and maintenance front.
Inaugurated a little over 13 years ago, the Mathany Saldanha Administrative Building is now in need of a fresh coat of paint, while several portions of the sprawling structure require repairs and plastering.
A visit to the entrance of the building’s basement suggests that little or no major repair and maintenance work has been undertaken since its inauguration in February 2013. Plaster has crumbled off at one or two places, while several sections of the basement appear to be in a state of disrepair.
Cavelossim Sarpanch Dixon Vaz said the administrative building requires urgent attention. “The underground basement area looks very scary. Big chunks of plaster have fallen off and many areas of the walls and ceilings are in bad condition. There is an urgent need to get them repaired,” he said.
Vaz also stressed the need to appoint an expert to inspect the basement, which remains damp, to ascertain the cause of the persistent moisture. He said an assessment was necessary to determine whether the dampness could be attributed to the building’s location in a low-lying area.
When contacted by The Goan for details on the upkeep and maintenance of the imposing structure, South Goa District Collector Egna Cleetus said Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had cleared the file for maintenance work on the building.
She said the Public Works Department (PWD) had decided to undertake plastering as well as painting of the building. The work will commence once the file receives final clearance, she added.
The Mathany Saldanha Administrative Building was described as an architectural marvel by project consultant Rajiv Khanna & Associates on the eve of its inauguration. “The iconic building rises majestically along the NH-17 in a Portuguese character and has a strong feel of belonging as it is in keeping with the architectural heritage of Goa,” the consultant had remarked.
