Unsafe buildings in South Goa: Collector's fresh advisory raises more questions than answers

File image of structurally compromised buildings in Margao, where chajjas and galleries came crashing down.

MARGAO
An advisory issued by South Goa District Collector Egna Cletus, IAS, on unsafe buildings and structures across the district has once again brought the issue of dilapidated and dangerous buildings — posing risks to life and property — into sharp focus.
The advisory, however, appears to have raised several questions against the backdrop of a government circular dated June 24, 2025, which had directed the Collectors of both North and South Goa to issue necessary instructions to the concerned authorities at the district level under the Disaster Management Act, 2005. The circular had specifically called for a comprehensive verification exercise to identify buildings or structures that are: a) structurally unsound, b) abandoned, or c) otherwise unsafe for habitation or public use.
In contrast, the latest advisory now urges citizens themselves to report any unsafe or structurally weak buildings to their local municipal council. For areas outside municipal limits, citizens have been advised to report such cases to the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO) for appropriate action.
This shift in approach has sparked contentious questions — primarily whether the authorities mandated under the government’s June 24 circular have adequately carried out the comprehensive verification exercise to identify unsafe or abandoned buildings within their jurisdictions.
The Collector’s advisory has also revived concerns over the status of an exercise undertaken by a team comprising officials from the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), the Deputy Collector, and the Salcete Mamlatdar, along with representatives from the Goa Engineering College, to identify unsafe and dilapidated structures in Margao, the State’s commercial capital.
Observers now question whether that earlier exercise could not be brought to its logical conclusion due to the high cost of obtaining structural stability reports, which may have hindered the completion of the verification process for the identified unsafe buildings.
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Citizen reporting urged, but who bears the cost of safety checks?
MARGAO: In her recent advisory, the South Goa District Collector has urged citizens to report any unsafe or structurally weak buildings to their respective municipal councils.
For premises located outside municipal limits, citizens have been advised to bring such cases to the notice of the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO) for appropriate action.
However, this has thrown up a host of pertinent questions. What appropriate action can the local bodies realistically take against unsafe and dilapidated structures — especially when many citizens had pinned their hopes on the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) to intervene decisively, given the dilly-dallying approach of several local bodies in the past?
Further, if the earlier exercise undertaken by district authorities to identify and act against old and unsafe buildings failed to reach its logical conclusion due to disputes over who should bear the cost of conducting structural stability tests, the same question now resurfaces. When citizens report unsafe structures to the municipalities or BDOs, who will bear the cost of the mandatory structural stability assessments required to substantiate such complaints?
The Collector’s advisory, while well-intentioned, has therefore reignited debate over the practical enforcement mechanisms and financial responsibilities involved in addressing the persistent problem of unsafe buildings across the district.
Take, for instance, the Margao Municipal Council. When the issue of unsafe buildings in the commercial capital came to the fore during the monsoons, following the collapse of portions of two buildings, the Margao municipal authorities had submitted before the District Collector, Egna Cletus, that the civic body has no wherewithal nor funds at its disposal to initiate action against the unsafe and dilapidated buildings in the city.
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Collector’s advisory: What citizens should know
In light of growing concerns over unsafe and dilapidated buildings, the South Goa District Collector has issued a fresh advisory urging citizens to stay vigilant and report hazardous structures.
Key points from the advisory:
Owners and occupants are primarily responsible for ensuring the safety of their premises; citizens are advised to report unsafe or structurally weak buildings to their local municipality; for areas outside municipal limits, such reports should be directed to the concerned Block Development Officer (BDO); People are strongly discouraged from residing in or using such premises for any activity.
In case of emergencies, contact: ERSS Helpline: 112; South Goa Collectorate Control Room: 0832-2794100