THURSDAY, APRIL 25, 2024
MARCOS GONSALVES
MARGAO: The multi-crore establishment Mathany Saldanha Administrative Complex (South Goa Collectorate building), one of the biggest government buildings of Goa, is in tatters. Any visitors has to mentally prepared that they might have to stand all through their waiting period as there is hardly any place to seat as there are broken and rusty benches scattered all around.
Doors broken, leakages galore, no place to sit for senior citizens
The not-even-a-decade-old building have its doors broken; there are leakages in several corners of the building due to heavy rains, besides damaged ceilings and electric points. This building which caters hundreds of citizen on the daily basis needs urgent attention from the authorities with regards to proper maintenances since its inauguration.
When Herald visited other floors of the building it was shocking to notice that even old-aged citizens find it difficult to take a sit and rest for a minute. Citizens at the 'Citizen Service Centre' are seen standing in a queue for hours, with no chairs or benches to sit. While sofa’s at the reception of the District Collector chamber is also in a very bad shape. It is also found out that the maintenance of the massive building has become a burden to the authorities, as they find it difficult to get approvals for the maintenance works on time.
The said building is considered as one of the biggest government buildings in the State which was inaugurated in 2013 by then Chief Minister late Manohar Parrikar. However, it was a project initiated by the Congress government by then Chief Minister Digambar Kamat.
Parrikar is on the record that an estimated cost of 57 crores, the cost of the project was to be completed by December 2010 shot up to 140 crores. The project was delayed as the pace of the work decelerated during the tenure of the Congress government due to a lack of adequate flow of funds.
At the moment several government offices have been shifted to this Mathany Saldhana Administrative Complex and the flow of citizens has been increased since then.
A few years ago the conditions of the toilets were unimaginable and as a result, citizens and even staff have to face difficulties over there. However, few are repaired recently and more works related to maintenance of toilets will be taken up in coming days. Damaged floor tiles have been repaired.
Speaking to Herald, several citizens urged the authority to replace the old and damaged and rusty benches with new ones.
"I hardly find a seat over here. All are damaged and become rusty. Waiting for very long hours over here makes people struggle. I urged the authority at least to make temporary seating arrangement over here", said Manisha Naik a 50-year-old lady.
On the second floor of the building what Herald noticed that a senior citizen was struggling to stand but there was no chair to rest. It was just next to the counter where marriage certificates are issued. At many places, buckets were noticed, which were kept in order to collect the water of air-conditioners.
The conditions on the third floor were no different. However, what shocking was that the sofas kept at the reception centre of the District collector chamber have lost their skin and feel like those sofas are abandoned for a very long time.
Speaking to Herald, Joseph Vaz from Rachol said that it is unfortunate that the present government has failed to uphold the prestige of the South Goa District Collector building.
"We were expecting at least the maintenance of this building should be been done properly by the government. At the moment the building is in very bad condition. Toilets are not maintained properly. Even, the seats are broken, and what shocking is that even in the Mamlatdar chamber there are not proper benches, of which some are in damaged conditions", he stated.
He also said that people, besides legal fraternity and especially the senior citizens are facing lots of hardships at the district collector-building. "There is fear of benches falling and people get hurt. The collector should immediately take precautions about the same and the government should also take serious note of this at the earliest", he urged.
When contacted Surendra Naik, Additional Collector, he said that recently a file pertaining to repairs of toilets has got approval and the work will be carried about immediately.
"We have also moved other files with regard to maintenance works of building, as works are carried out in a step-by-step manner. Presently the Public Works Department is looking after the maintenance works", he informed.
He said that Collector's Office has concern for the citizens and all the maintenance works will be done as soon as files get approved.
It is on the record that not less than Rs. 1.5 crore to Rs. 2 crores per annum is spent per annum to maintain the imposing district Collectorate building. The cost includes outsourcing of the maintenance of the air-conditioned facility, lifts, sweeping, and other services. For the initial three years building was maintained by the GSIDC.
