MARGAO
As the annex building in the Hospicio heritage complex came under scanner after the chajja collapse on Thursday, another annex building in the complex, declared unsafe, around half a decade ago, is standing tall and is awaiting demolition.
When the Margao Urban Health Centre’s activities were shifted to the Hospcio annex building in July last year after the collapse of the Urban Health Centre’s building façade, questions were raised why the unsafe annex building in the Hospicio complex has not been razed down till date.
After the issue was highlighted by The Goan, the Health Services had requested the PWD, buildings to prepare estimates for the demolition of the ground-plus-four storied building. It is now learnt that while the PWD, Buildings have been prompt in preparing the estimates, funds to the tune of Rs 40-odd lakhs required to undertake the demolition operation, are still not forthcoming from the Health department.
“The exercise of razing down the unsafe annex building will require huge funds to the tune of Rs 40-odd lakhs. After preparing the estimates, the PWD has forwarded the estimates to the Health department to place the necessary funds to execute the demolition operation. So far, we have not received the positive nod from the Health Services”, informed a senior PWD official.
