Team Herald
MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council was forced to demolish a portion of an old abandoned house at Borda as its wall collapsed last night due to the heavy rains. Local Councillor Glenn Andrade said the demolition squad had come over on two occasions but had to return without doing any work and they could not figure out where to start.
However, as a portion of the wall at the rear collapsed today, two JCBs one belonging to the MMC and the other hired were pressed into service to demolish the portion of the house abutting the road as it would collapse at any moment.
Glenn disclosed that around eight months back the demolition squad had come to carry out the work at the site as the Collector had already issued the demolition order after carrying out the required formalities.
Apparently the owners of the house are settled in Australia and because there is reportedly some family dispute pending, no other family members have shown any interest in maintaining the house.
Municipal Engineer Surendra Gaonkar disclosed that a notice under Section 180 was issued to the owners named Cruz around two years back to secure the house that appeared unstable. However, there was no response to that.
However, by 4:30 pm the portion of the house that was adjacent to the road was demolished but the high plinth which was a hallmark of ancestral houses, still stands and a major portion of the house remains which may collapse further due to the rains.
“That is for the owners of the house to decide and what we have done is cleared the portion that was posing a threat to people,” said Glenn.
