TEAM HERALD
teamherald@herald-goa.com
MARGAO: The VK Jha Commission of Inquiry constituted by the government to probe into the Canacona building collapse has submitted its preliminary report, with the panel suggesting gross criminal negligence on part of the builders and the contractor leading to the collapse of the building that claimed 31 lives.
The preliminary report was submitted to the Revenue Department last week and the same is being studied by the government. Deputy Chief Minister, Francis D’Souza, who also holds the Revenue portfolio, said the Jha Commission preliminary report has come out with the revelation that there was gross negligence on the part of the builders and the contractor. D’Souza further said the preliminary report has further pointed out the connivance of the builders-contractor combine with the concerned authorities.
He said a copy of the report has been forwarded to the Chief Minister, who has marked it to the investigating agency probing the incident.
The government had last month constituted a Commission under the Commission of Inquiry, 1952 headed by VK Jha, a retired IAS officer to investigate and establish the causes that had led to the collapse of building in Ruby Residency.
Sources in the Commission said the Inquiry panel will now take up full-fledged hearing of the case, beginning next month to establish the circumstances and events leading to the building collapse. As per the terms of reference, the Commission is required to also fix responsibility, both individual and institutional, resulting in the building collapse and to find out the administrative, procedural and statutory lapses of various agencies and recommend remedial measures.
Jha along with another member of the Commission discussed the issues before the panel as they are bracing up to conduct the inquiry from next month. The Commission has received various statements and information on affidavit and the hearing is likely to commence in the first week of March. The Commission has at its disposal two more months to cap the inquiry and submit the report to the government.
