Ancient cities have age-old problems. And infrastructure that creaks at the edges, unless refurbished. And it has several old buildings that continue to be homes and offices that can no longer stand test of time. But as they are about to just roll over and collapse, the danger is seen but not felt by their owners or the CCP. Like all else, they have left decisions regarding the fate of these homes hanging- by not moving quick to either repair, restore or raze these precarious structures. A TEAM HERALD reports
GLENN COSTA
There are buildings in Panjim that could fall any day- never mind which list it is on. But as they hang precariously with the lives of unsuspecting dwellers or even passers by hanging in balance, the fate of the building is often in a locked or lost file, which contains proposals or clearances for their repair and restoration. And the blame carries on. Is it the owners who refuse permissions, or the CCP which is not pro-active.
As the beautification of the capital city has officially begun with the concretization of the Miramar road, the Corporation of the City of Panjim’s list of unsafe buildings still remains just that – a list. Though the list has been compiled quite some time back and at least in some cases, the Commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues has held meetings with building residents, nothing has been taken forward as yet. The blame game continues with residents and CCP sources saying that owners (in case of rented premises) are not cooperating.
Residents have expressed their dismay and their frustration as the authorities play with the life of people pointing out to collapses and casualties in places like Mumbai and ask whether the authorities are allowing themselves to be held hostage by owners.
According to the Mayor Surendra Furtado a list of ten such structures had been submitted to the Commissioner. And he is supposed to forward it to the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA).He confirmed that the file had been moved to the commissioner months back, but they have not acted as yet.
The Institute of instruction or Mhatmo as it is commonly called is another building that is an eye sore.
Residents ask the reason why the CCP allows the buildings to reach such a state of disrepair before any action is taken while CCP sources put it down on owners for not cooperating with them, just ignoring them or in many cases even approaching the courts.
According to many, the owners of many of these buildings are reluctant to do anything as they have tenants and they are finding it difficult to settle these issues.
In other cases, the owners are just not bothered though CCP officials say that they are ready to give permissions to repair such buildings.
Residents, say that the city body has become basically toothless, attributing it to the politics between the local MLA and the Mayor.
Panjim is full of heritage structures. Tourists go to the Latin quarter, like Fontainhas and St Tome.
