Four old and dilapidated buildings in Cuncolim are on the verge of collapsing putting the occupants at risk.
One building at the Cuncolim Market, which is more than 100 years old, is about to fall and can collapse at any time. A part of the ground plus one building with Mangalore tiles has already collapsed. The owner of this building staying in the first floor has temporarily vacated the premises. On the ground floor there are three shops – one selling tea, a man’s saloon and one food corner – which are doing good business. All these shops are given on rent. It is learnt from sources that there are some differences between the owner of the building and occupants. The owner reportedly does not want to repair the building because he is not getting proper rent.
Hundreds of customers, who frequent this building daily, are at risk because it can come down anytime and cause a tragedy.
The second, located in the centre of Cuncolim Market, is also an old building, the first floor of which has already collapsed. On the ground floor there are two shops one medical store and the other a general merchant. Hundreds of customers visit these shops in the building constructed with mud and logs and can collapse any time.
The third building, which is located in Demani, is also a commercial premise owned by a private party. The fourth is also located in the Cuncolim Market. Surprisingly, government’s telephone exchange operates from this dilapidated building. Previously Cuncolim Electricity office was also functioning from same building but thanks to former Cuncolim MLA Rajan Naik who took the initiative and shifted it to the KTC bus stand.
There is one more building at Panzorconi Cuncolim on the NH17. This building was in the possession of PWD who had used it during the extension of NH17. After a part of it collapsed in the monsoons, the Collector had issued a notice to demolish this structure. However, two years have lapsed following the order but the PWD officers are least bothered and perhaps waiting for it to collapse with the vagaries of nature, said one source.
For the last 10 years locals and the Cuncolim Municipal Council (CMC) are discussing these buildings. The Council has issued notices to buildings’ owners and has written to the Collector and the PWD to take action against these buildings which are endangering the life of Cuncolkars.
Council sources told Herald that they are pursuing this issue and are confident that they will be able to resolve this problem by the end of the rainy season. Locals are also demanding to demolish these buildings and to rehabilitate the shop owners in the new commercial complex which is coming up in Cuncolim Market.
Meanwhile the CMC authorities have asked all the owners to provide feasibility report if the buildings are fit for occupancy. Although the engineers have provided an occupancy certificate, the Council has decided to hold a joint inspection with the PWD engineers and act accordingly.
