Team Herald
MARGAO: With creepers starting to grow on the walls and delay in executing the plans to renovate, the over 150 year old heritage building of the old Hospicio hospital need urgent attention. Concerned locals demanded the heritage building should be handed over to a charitable organisations involved in medical care.
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The growing creepers and leakage at many places may damage the walls and roof of the heritage building. The collapsed portion of the compound wall on the way to Moti Dongor is still not restored.
The officials at the Hospicio Hospital have however claimed that maintenance of the building is done on a regular basis and admitted that the renovation works are yet to commence.
Almost 95 per cent of the health services have been shifted to the New District Hospital and hardly few sections are operational in Hospicio. People expected that the over 150-year-old building would be renovated and maintained with central funding on the lines of Azilo hospital to retain its heritage character, as declared by then Health Minister Vishwajit Rane.
Rane had claimed that the government has drawn up plans to utilise the building to host a wellness centre, district early intervention centre and a rehabilitation centre, as he had denied that this building will be converted into a museum.
As per the statements by the Minister the earlier government has given the nod to the Health Director to utilise the central funds to renovate Hospicio heritage building on priority.
Speaking to Herald Dr Deepa Corria Afonso, Medical Supritendent of Hospicio Hospital said that the renovation of the heritage building of old Hospicio is yet to start.
“We have not yet vacated the old Hospicio building, as few sections are still fuctional. Maintenance is done on a regular basis,” said Afonso.
Major renovation works will be done in the later stages, claimed Dr Afonso.
The heritage building and the compound are turning into a ghost house, said citizens.
Shadow Council for Margao (SCM) Savio Coutinho said that the lists of Heritage Structures or buildings of historical significance,that need immediate attention are growing by the day.
“We demand that government should hand over Hospicio Hospital to any charitable organisations involved in medical care. We have absolutely all the reason to make such a demand,” said Savio.
