TEAM HERALD
CURCHOREM: Concerned about the catastrophic effects of unsafe buildings in light of the Canacona building tragedy, the Curchorem-Cacora Municipal Council has issued an order to occupants of two buildings, warning them of unsafe structures.
“Shops in survey No 90/10 of the municipal building and Costa building near the railway station are in bad condition and not fit for occupation,” Chief Officer Agnelo Fernandes stated in his order which was issued on Thursday.
“You are ordered to vacate the shop occupied by you with immediate effect, failing which if any causality takes place, you will be held responsible,” Fernandes stated in his order.
When contacted, Fernandes said he was taking precautions following collapse of Ruby Residency building at Canacona.
“I have issued notices to owners of all old buildings in the municipal jurisdiction and have asked them to produce a structural stability certificate from authorized engineers. To ensure the stability of the government building, I have asked the PWD to inspect and submit a report on the structure,” said Fernandes.
“The single-storeyed Costa building occupied by some traders was constructed during the Portuguese regime and it partially collapsed some years ago. The municipal building is also in bad condition and there is fear that it could collapse at any moment,” said Fernandes.
It may be recalled that CCMC had convened a meeting a year ago with all stakeholders from the municipal building along with Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral, where it was decided to demolish the old building and to construct a new one at the same site.
Confirming receipt of CCMC’s notice, a trader Jaykumar Khandekar told media persons that they will convene a meeting of all stakeholders to chalk out future course of action.
“The traders are ready to vacate the premises, but the CCMC has not given any proposal on the temporary location for the traders while the new building is under construction,” Khandekar said.
