MARGAO: The Margao Municipal Council (MMC) building faced yet another episode of water leakage and seepage on Wednesday, raising concerns among citizens about the potential damage to important documents and public records.
The severity of the seepage was evident in the taxation and administrative sections, which house crucial birth and death records of Margao residents. MMC staff struggled to salvage the documents, using buckets to collect the water.
Former MMC Chairperson Savio Coutinho criticized the Council for its lack of initiative in addressing the water seepage issue. He attributed the problem to the Council’s lethargic attitude.
Coutinho remarked, “During duty hours, we see staff members collecting water, but after hours and during the night, the files and records are left to soak on the floor. It is disgraceful that the Council, with its team of technically qualified officials responsible for scrutinizing building plans, fails to take appropriate measures to prevent water seepage within its own premises.”
Margao citizens strongly demanded the safeguarding of records from water damage. Coutinho expressed concerns about the potential hardships the public may face if vital documents, especially live birth reports, are damaged. He highlighted the chaotic state of the first floor, strewn with wet files, papers, and waste.
Furthermore, visitors to the MMC called upon Gaurish Sankwalkar, the new Chief Officer, to personally assess the verandah area on the first floor to glean firsthand knowledge of the situation.
In other parts of Margao, severe water logging was observed due to incessant rainfall throughout the day. Kiosks near the KTC bus stand and areas near Ana Fonte Garden, Carmelite Monastery in Pajifond, and the slope near St Sebastian Church in Aquem were all affected. Similar issues were reported in various parts of Fatorda.
