Team Herald
MARGAO: In a chilling repeat of events from two years ago, a portion of the same crumbling building at Pimpal Katta in Margao’s Gandhi Market collapsed on Friday afternoon, damaging three parked vehicles and reigniting fears over public safety in the town’s busy commercial hub.
This is the second such incident at the site. In 2022, rubble from the same building had crashed down, injuring a woman and damaging a car. At that time, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) had issued a notice to the owner, Allen Dias, directing him to take immediate safety measures and submit a stability report. Two years later, those warnings appear to have gone unheeded.
While no injuries were reported in Friday’s collapse, the incident has once again exposed glaring lapses in enforcement. Fire and Emergency Services personnel rushed to the spot, swiftly clearing debris and cordoning off the site to prevent further danger. Access to the area has now been restricted.
The building, already declared unsafe by the MMC, has shown visible signs of structural deterioration. Despite earlier warnings and past incidents — including a similar collapse in 2021 at another building in the Gandhi Market area — residents and shopkeepers say authorities have failed to act decisively.
“A similar incident was reported in the past at the same building, where the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) had asked for a structural stability report. Unsafe buildings were issued demolition notices, but no action has been taken. Shockingly, the local MLA was seen inaugurating a business in one such unsafe building. This reflects the utter disregard for public safety,” remarked Savio Coutinho, former MMC Chairperson.
Local MLA Digambar Kamat, who visited the site shortly after the collapse, issued clear directions to the civic body.
“I have directed the Margao Municipal Council to immediately clean and secure the area, and also take precautionary measures to ensure no further danger to life or property,” he told reporters.
Kamat also called for the immediate evacuation of all shops operating from the dilapidated structure.
“Public safety cannot be compromised. Shopkeepers must vacate until a structural assessment confirms the building is safe. We cannot afford to take risks,” he said.
A nearby shop owner expressed frustration, stating, “This is a densely crowded business hub. A collapse during peak hours could have been tragic.”
Fire officials confirmed that three cars were damaged when debris from the slab of the building crashed onto them.
In 2022, when part of the first-floor gallery collapsed, a woman had sustained minor injuries, and the building had already been deemed dangerous. Despite that, it remained in use. MMC Chairperson Damodar Shirodkar had said then that the Council had issued notices to owners of unsafe structures, but only a few had responded. A similar story played out in 2016, when 19 such buildings were identified by the Council — most owners simply ignored the warnings.
Residents are urging the MMC to conduct urgent inspections of all buildings previously marked as unsafe, especially with the monsoon already underway.
Municipal officials have, yet again, assured that a detailed structural audit will be conducted and action taken on other identified buildings posing risk.
CCP caught napping as solar plan for Panjim market gathers dust
Team Herald
PANJIM: It’s been almost a year since strong winds and heavy rains blew away roof sheets at the Panjim municipal market, but when the unseasonal rain hit earlier this week, the civic authorities were caught napping as the water streamed in, forcing vendors to scurry for cover under tarpaulin sheets.
It now emerges that the intended repairs have been stuck in a limbo over a government decision to install solar panels on the roof – which, again, have not moved forward since the roof was damaged in July 2024.
Now, with the roof leaking again, CCP is scrambling to repair the damage – quite literally. “The file took time to clear but now, with mounting complaints by traders and vendors, the Corporation has decided to proceed with the repairs immediately,” a CCP official said.
All this while, the damaged roof had been temporarily covered with plastic sheets, but that proved unequal to the task of protecting the vendors from the fury of the recent rains. “This is our livelihood. Wet goods mean no sales,” said a fruit vendor, expressing the concerns shared by many.
A senior CCP official confirmed that the repair work will begin shortly and is expected to be completed by June 15. He added that the estimated cost has been approved and the tender process will soon be underway. The project will involve replacing around 40 roof sheets, with each sheet estimated to cost Rs 1.5 lakh. A consultant from the CCP’s empaneled list will oversee the work.
The market’s current state has drawn criticism, with issues including leaking ceilings, unsanitary restrooms, and waterlogged walkways — conditions at odds with Panjim’s vision of becoming a Smart City.
To expedite the process, the CCP plans to issue a short tender, aiming to bring much-needed relief to both vendors and shoppers before the arrival of the next monsoon season.