MARGAO
Collapse of portion of two old buildings in less than 24 hours in the commercial capital has sparked outrage amongst the citizens.
With the commercial capital playing host to a number of old and dangerous buildings, questions are being raised over the failure of the authorities, including the Margao Municipal Council and the District Disaster Management Authority to crack a whip.
While Margao MLA Digambar Kamat on Friday remarked that it is the fundamental right of citizens to own private property, questions are asked whether these dilapidated and unsafe buildings can be allowed to pose danger to public life and property.
Madgavkar Vivek Naik demanded to know whether the old buildings, leave alone directed to raze down the structures, were ever told to rehabilitate the decades old structures. “The two incidents in less than 24 hours is a grim reminder that all is not well with the old buildings. There will be dozens of such buildings standing tall across the city”, headed.
Madganvcho Awaaz leader Prabhav Naik said the so-called “Master Plan” is nothing short of a betrayal of Margao’s heritage, people, and future. “Under the guise of urban renewal, this plan is engineered to allow old buildings to rot, pushing business community and families out, and making way for high-rise towers pushed by Delhi-based cronies and promoter-builder lobbies, Prabhav charged.
He said the phrase “From Rot to Plot & Plot to Potlo” sums up this strategy -- allow deliberate neglect, convert that decay into saleable land, and finally sell out Margao’s soul to profiteers. “Every crumbling house is a potential potlo, a multi-storey monstrosity built without regard for Margao’s infrastructure, environment, or character”, he said.
Rejecting the Master plan outright, Prabhav demanded a people-centric development vision that restores heritage, improves public amenities, and places Margao’s families, not faraway investors at the heart of urban planning. "We urge every Madganvkar to stay vigilant, raise their voice, and stand up for their city. This is not just a fight against bad planning, it’s a fight to save Margao itself," Prabhav Naik stated.
