Team Herald
PANJIM: A portion of a balcony of a building in type 1 residential quarters of Goa Medical College and Hospital (GMC) complex collapsed on Monday, however, no one were injured.
Reacting to the incident, Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said, “The complex has outlived its time and we will hand it over to be assessed.” Stating that the buildings have been very poorly maintained, he said they have to be brought down and taller buildings constructed in their place.
Responding to a question on residents occupying the complex, he said, “Obviously we can’t keep people there. It is a very old complex and fortunately we have not had any casualty. We will hand it over to GSIDC.”
The quarters are more than 40 years old and there are approximately 240 quarters occupied by staff of GMC, Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behaviour and Dental College. For the last 15 years the quarters have been neglected as there is no proper maintenance though residents have been paying house rents and water charges.
Former Bambolim Deputy Sarpanch Diona Korgaonkar said there is an issue between PWD and GSIDC on handling of the maintenance works of the quarters.
She said, “Until now there is no clarity as to who is responsible for the maintenance works at the quarters. There are two buildings which need to be demolished immediately as they are not in habitable conditions but last month people were given occupancy in the building.”
