MARGAO: The recent concrete slab collapse incident at Old Hospicio has exposed the ongoing delay in addressing repair issues with the Urban Health Centre building, a heritage structure.
The file seeking approval for the proposed financial estimate for repairs, moved by the Public Works Department back in August 2023, is still awaiting a green signal from the advisory board.
Reliable sources indicate that despite the urgency of the matter, the advisory board has yet to clear the file. “We have not received the file, which was sent for financial approval,” confirmed sources.
In the past, concerned citizens and stakeholders have expressed frustration over the delayed repair works on the heritage building, damaged during the rainy season in July 2023.
Despite explicit instructions from Health Minister Vishwajit Rane to promptly address the repair of the damaged portion of the heritage building, the exposure of these historical structures to the elements, particularly rains, continues without mitigation.
“It is evident that the government’s delay in giving approval for the repair of this heritage site reflects a lack of seriousness in protecting and preserving our historical structures,” said Iftiyaz Shaikh, a Margao local.
