According to Canacona Municipal Council Chairperson Simon Rebello, the municipality had sought a fitness certificate from the PWD (buildings) soon after the incident. The PWD examined the building with the help of Goa Engineering College, Farmagudi, and has now submitted its report declaring the building as ‘unfit.’
“A decision will be arrived at shortly after the report is tabled in the council’s next meeting. But, in all probability and considering the gravity of the matter, the unfit building will be taken-up for demolition. The matter of re-construction of the building at the site or using the space for the up-coming market complex will also be decided in the next meeting,” said Rebello.
Flames engulfed the building at around Midnight on March 12, 2014. Around 30 fire-fighters and water tankers worked until 3.45 am to extinguish the fire. Around 42 shops suffered losses worth more than Rs 85 lakh.
Fire personnel from Margao, Curchorem and Panjim, along with the Canacona police, assisted in retrieving the documents from the deputy town planner’s office, which was on the first floor. At that time, many suspected sabotage as the office was under investigation following the Ruby Residency building collapse two months earlier. The TCP office was later shifted to another block of the CMC building.
The owners of the destroyed shops refused the municipality’s offer of relocation. A few months later, some of them moved back into the building despite warnings from the civic body. They will now have to move out again as the CMC plans to demolish the building.
If Rebello is to be believed, these vendors will be accommodated in the new market complex, which is almost ready for occupation.
