MAPUSA: With work on the heritage building at Altinho delayed by more than a month, the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) has now directed the building contractor to complete the project by the second week of December, as Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza wants to inaugurate the building on December 19.
Once completed, the MMC administrative block will be shifted to the heritage building and MMC hopes to utilize the existing MMC building for library and other educational and cultural activities.
According to reports, the work order for the renovation of the heritage building, earlier used by St Mary’s school, was issued to contractor on June 18, 2013 and the work was expected to be completed by April 25.
Incidentally, the estimate prepared by the consultant did not include the electrical works as the work order was issued to the contractor without the electrical works.
The electrical estimates were received by MMC on June 23. Even after granting extension of time, the contractor could no complete the renovation of the building.
Hoping that the pending work, which included flooring, fixing of doors, windows and electrical works, would be completed by September 30, the MMC had plans to shift its office to the new premises in October.
With the work yet to be completed, the MMC dashed off a letter to the contractor on October 28, directing him to expedite the work by deploying extra manpower, so that the building can be inaugurated on Liberation Day.
One of the finest heritage structures in Mapusa, the original municipal building was inaugurated in 1933 as the Liceu Municipal during the Portuguese colonial rule.
When the MMC shifted to its present building, the premises were given to the St Mary’s Convent High School. The school vacated the heritage municipal building in 1997 and since then, the building has been standing vacant.
The MMC then decided to renovate the building by utilizing the Golden Jubilee funds from the State government and to use it as the MMC office. One of the main benefits of the spacious new premises is the ample parking space in front of the building.
