The 350-odd families occupying quarters provided by the Goa Rehabilitation Board (GRB) at headland Sada in Mormugao Constituency feel that they have jumped from the frying pan to the fire. All this because they were identified as victims of natural disaster or project affected people and thus were shifted to GRB quarters. However, these residents had no idea that once they occupy their new homes they will have to live under constant fear and a life full of hardships due to pathetic condition of the buildings.
According to information received, in the year 2008 the GRB completed the construction of about 100 ground plus first floor blocks out of which about 85 blocks (15 still vacant) were allotted to the Tariwada landslide victims in 2008. Similarly GRB constructed about 256 flats for the people under low income groups (LIG) and the same were allotted to the NH17 B project affected victims in the year 2013.
Ironically since the time GRB handed over these residential units, it has failed to take up any major periodic maintenance of these. Residents claim that only during elections, politicians visit their area and then do nothing to resolve the existing issues.
Explaining about various hardships faced by the residents living in GRB quarters, a housewife from LIG quarters Laxmi Naik said: “We have been facing lots of issues here, like leakages and seepages from roof and walls etc, but the topmost issue faced by all of us is shortage of water supply. Since the time we have shifted we have to hunt for water in the neighbouring areas as our sump tanks and overhead tanks always remain empty.”
Another resident said that “Leakages from roof and walls is common here. Even the painting of building was not done since last several years. We feel that we are not been rehabilitated but pushed from the frying pan to the fire. At present no one living here will be happy because these quarters are unfit for human habitation only because there is no maintenance done and we don’t have any rights on the maintenance.”
On the other hand GRB officials feel that the residents themselves should look after maintenance of blocks allotted to them. “Till three years ago, we used to do some minor repair works. However, slowly the board stopped taking up any repairs of these units as people then started asking for major repairs like alternation, slab works, etc which GRB cannot do with funds available,” said one of the senior most staff from GRB head office.
Jayant Tari, Managing Director of GRB, said: “There people were relocated by the government in GRB quarters and hence they are now the permanent residents. With regards to maintenance issue then the issue of who owns these quarters has to be the same. I feel there is some confusion over maintenance because the regulations have not been framed over last many years. We are now in process of re-framing the regulations and rules of GRB and we have suggested that once the building is allotted, the board will look after maintenance only for few years. As of now the entire maintenance is looked after by the board, which we don’t want as once the units are allotted, board cannot look after the maintenance for lifetime.”
He further said that “When the premises were allotted to the people, we had asked them to form a society so that the members can contribute and take up repair/maintenance works. Now hence these residents have failed to form their society, board has taken decision to form a society and then to handover the affairs to the society.”
Meanwhile Mormugao MLA Milind Naik, who is builder by profession acknowledge the fact that the residents have been facing severe hardships due to lack of maintenance. He also blamed the government authorities for the substandard works of the GRB quarters. “I feel that board is not interested in taking up any maintenance. These people have been rehabilitated and hence they should be given their rights over the tenements. I have already requested the board to do this. Also with regards to the condition of the buildings, I feel that the construction works was not up to the mark as they failed to do quality work and these units are unfit for human habitation,” Naik said.
