MARGAO: Reacting to the directions of the District Collector to conduct a re-survey of dangerous buildings in Margao, citizens have stated that it took over a year, and the collapse of a portion of an old building in Margao that injured a person and damaged a car, for an initiative to be taken by the authorities to safeguard citizens..
In July 2021, the Shadow Council for Margao had demanded the reassessment of dilapidated and unsafe structures, that pose a risk to the public, said Savio Coutinho, Convenor of SCM and former chairperson of the MMC.
He said that the first and last such survey of dangerous buildings was conducted way back in 2012-13, wherein some buildings were identified, and notices were issued to the owner’s/occupants, but thereafter not much action was seen.
“However, in a couple of cases, we found real estate developers taking advantage of the notices issued and clearing their hurdles by demolishing stronger buildings, and setting into motion their plans for redevelopment,” Coutinho alleged.
“And from the time of the survey, till today there have been several incidents of collapse of dilapidated structures, however, except for the Casa Menezes building near Gandhi market, all other buildings that collapsed have not figured in the list. This is proof enough to confirm our charge that the list prepared had ulterior motives,” stated Coutinho.
Upon the structures being identified, strict directions should be given to the owner’s/occupants to repair or dismantle the dangerous portions, within a stipulated time period, he added.
