The current monsoon session of the Assembly has discussed various issues related to the State and witnessed arguments between the opposition and the ruling party. One of the most important issues was the condition of old government buildings, which are in bad shape and need attention. The current rainy season has seen a record of 105 inches of rain in just two months, and the season is still not over. The heavy rain and wind over the past two months have caused havoc, including falling trees, landslides, house collapses, and loss of life.
Nature cannot be stopped from its course, but precautions can definitely be taken beforehand. The disaster management team must have been in a tough situation as Goa and Maharashtra witnessed heavy downpours in the past few days. The government should now seriously consider the condition of old buildings and houses more than 30 years old. State government buildings and staff quarters need attention as they are in bad shape and the structures are on the verge of collapse.
A structural audit is crucial to assess the condition of buildings so that they can be vacated before unfortunate mishaps occur. We have both government and private housing societies that are over 30 years old and not fit for occupancy. The government should take all necessary steps to conduct audits on such structures to save lives and protect assets before worse incidents happen. There should be budget allocation for such buildings, like old art museums, offices, and panchayat buildings. Only through such audits can we prevent losses and reduce the financial burden on the state exchequer.
