MARGAO: In yet another embarrassment for the Margao Municipal Council (MMC), parts of the crumbling concrete ceiling in the heritage MMC building fell down on Friday. Fortunately, no injuries were reported, although this particular area is frequently traversed by staff and councillors.
The affected area is located near the covered verandah on the first floor. However, with visible signs of dampness on the walls and concrete now falling off, concerns have arisen regarding the overall stability of the structure. This is especially pertinent considering the previous collapse of the exterior wall on the first floor of another heritage building in town, the Urban Health Centre (UHC).
It should be noted that the MMC building has also faced issues such as leakage from the ceiling in the storage room, while the area in front of the building often gets waterlogged during heavy rainfall.
Citizens have strongly criticized the negligent attitude of the MMC and are urging the civic body to take immediate steps to prevent any further untoward incidents. They emphasize the importance of calling in engineers to conduct a structural safety audit of the historic building, before it is too late.
Furthermore, questions have been raised regarding the MMC’s ability to address issues concerning old buildings throughout the town, particularly in light of the ongoing concerns with their own building. Notably, the survey pertaining to these structural issues has not been updated.
