The QMC Chief Officer (CO) Pramod Dessai had earlier given the postal authorities a deadline to demolish the dilapidated structure. When the postal authorities did not reply, QMC razed the structure with the help of a JCB and demolition squad.
The Deputy Collector Shankar Gaonkar informed that the old structure had been unused for more than 20 years after the post office was shifted to a new building adjacent to the old premises. He said, “After a report highlighting the structure’s dilapidated condition appeared in Herald, I visited and inspected the site and found the structure was very weak and may collapse at any time. I prepared a final report after seeking a separate report from the Quepem post master, QMC CO, PWD (Buildings) and Quepem police station, and sent it to the South Goa Collector for action.”
Herald had highlighted the sorry state of the old post office after residents and civic authorities including QMC Vice Chairperson Camilo Simoes, Councillor Caitany (Catty) Fernandes, Ward Councillor Manuel Colaco and Vice President of Quepem Citizen Committee Evangelisto Da Costa criticized the postal department for neglecting the structure for 20 years.
Herald then informed the Senior Superintendent of Postal (SSP) at Mapusa Archana Gopinath, who assured to look into the matter. After some days, she informed Herald that a competent authority had been directed by the Civil Engineering Department to take action.
Welcoming the demolition of the structure, Councillor Caitany said that it was long-pending demand of the people to clean the area as it was in the heart of the city and was spoiling the beauty of the entire Quepem market. She added, “I hope the authorities will make the best use of the space.”
Ward Councillor Colaco also welcomed the move and said that, since the old structure was postal department property, a full-fledged post office should be constructed there. He said, “The authorities should not keep the place idle after demolishing the structure, but must construct their own new building or should develop the area for parking.”
