JULIO D’SILVA
MARGAO: The old Collectorate building in Margao wears a mangled look as there is absolutely no maintenance done even though there are around six offices functioning on the four floors of the building.
While the premises housing the offices look clean and tidy the surroundings are shabby and dirty.
In the first place the lift in the building has not been working for over a week and people have to climb the stairs. Handicapped persons, including one lady who was recovering from a fractured leg, were seen climbing the stairs with much difficulty.
The stairs leading to the terrace from the fourth floor where the Agriculture Department and Child Development Project Officer have their offices have boxes filled with waste paper lying on the floor while the spaces of 2nd floor where the Deputy Director of Tribal Welfare has an office has huge boxes with waste paper blocking free access to people.
The Civil Administration Branch at the Collector’s office revealed that individual department has been asked to maintain the section used by them which incidentally appears clean and neat. What is surprising is that the overall maintenance of the building is not allotted to anyone and that is why boxes with paper waste can be found here and there.
The Public Works Department is supposed to maintain the lift and the Agriculture Department which is situated on the fourth floor has already complained to them but till date the lift is not repaired. Executive Engineer Bharat Naik said the staff is responsible for the breakdown of the lift.
“The staff throw their waste food on the floor of the lift which attracts rats who then chew the lift cables because of which the lift is not working but it shall be attended to immediately,” he said.
