MARGAO: The Osia complex in Margao, which houses several government offices and commercial establishments, has come under scrutiny as hundreds of daily visitors express dissatisfaction with the inadequate facilities and maintenance issues. Visitors have raised complaints about dirty bathrooms, paan-stained staircases, a malfunctioning elevator, improper garbage disposal, and wastewater flow around the building.
The commercial establishment owners have previously complained to the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) about cleaning the surrounding areas while the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA) Chairman Krishna ‘Daji’ Salkar had said the government offices will work together to resolve the elevator issue.
On Thursday, GOACAN conducted an inspection of the Osia complex, with their convenor, Roland Martins, expressing strong disapproval of the prevailing conditions.
“We had received complaints so we had come here particularly to look at the situation of the offices that are housed here – SGPDA, Town and Country Planning (TCP) Department , Transport department etc – and I was appalled at the state of affairs here,” said Martins.
He highlighted the lack of cleanliness, paan stains on staircases, and improper garbage disposal on multiple floors outside the lift.
“Now there is a responsibility for the maintenance of the building premises because it is providing services to the consumers, and this is totally in violation of the Consumer Protection Act 2019,” he added.
GOACAN called for a clear identification of responsibility for premises maintenance, urging concerned officials to take immediate action and for the MMC to intervene, in response to citizens’ complaints. “If this carries on this way, it will only land up in litigation,” warned Martins.
“People will be fed up with what is going on, and file cases and then the officers, whether it is the local self-government or from these offices, will be drawn into sitting in the courts. This is not what they are called to do. They are called to serve the public,” he added.
