Recently, a portion of the ceiling in the Department of Social Welfare office at Panaji collapsed, highlighting ongoing issues. The government seems to have learned nothing from previous incidents like the collapses at Kala Academy and UHC. The building, dating back to the Portuguese era, is falling apart, as are many others in Goa. Despite repeated warnings, authorities have failed to carry out necessary repairs.
These rundown government buildings are being neglected. Many old buildings have structural issues, with crumbling plaster, water leaks during monsoons, and cracked columns, raising serious safety concerns for occupants and visitors. Several government departments operate in such deteriorating premises. Many of these offices are in the six-floor Junta House building on 18th June Road, which was built more than fifty years ago and is now in shambles. The walls, steps, lifts, and washrooms are all in a mess.
Numerous government departments, including the Directorate of Official Language, Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board, Department of Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, and Department of Transport, are located here. This situation shows the government’s careless attitude towards issues directly affecting the safety and welfare of citizens.
