Having started off as a municipal council office and later converted into a school, a heritage building in Mapusa is set to regain its
status as the town hall a little
over eight decades later.
With work on the heritage
building at Mapusa in its final
stages, the Mapusa Municipal
Council (MMC) is expecting
the building to be completed
by September end. A little
known fact is that the MMC
could have occupied the
building two months ago, had
it not been for a silly glitch.
One of the finest heritage
structures in Goa, 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 lying
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’s office. One of the main
benefits of the spacious new
premises is the ample parking
space in front of the building.
Speaking to Herald, MMC
Chairperson Sandeep Falari
stated that the work order
was issued to contractor, R
S B Khandeparker, on June
18, 2013. “The project was
to have been completed
within 270 days, that is, by
April 25 this year. The work
actually started on June 25,
2013. However, due to faulty
estimates by the consultant,
the restoration/renovation
work was delayed.”
“I have requested the
contractor to furnish the work
progress chart for the next
three months and it will be
monitored on a day-to-day
basis to ensure that the work
is not delayed any further,”
he said.
Claiming that the roofing
work has been completed,
the MMC chairman informed
that the roofing sheets which
have the appearance of Mangalore
tiles have, in fact, been
imported from China.
“These roofing sheets
have been fixed on the Bison
Board sheets to prevent water
leakage. Other pending works
of flooring, fixing of doors
and windows, as well as electrical
works are expected to
be completed by September
30. The MMC plans to shift
to these new premises in
October,” informed Falari.
“Once the MMC administrative
block is shifted to the
heritage building, the council
proposes to utilize the
present building for library
and other educational and
cultural activities. The final
decision in this matter will be
taken later,” informed Falari.
