Salcete comunidades accuse govt of neglect in repairing historical building

Team Herald

MARGAO: Comunidade bodies from Salcete are blasting the State government for failing to uphold promises made to them regarding the repair of the roof of the old, dilapidated comunidade building in Margao before the monsoon sets in. They fear that the building will suffer more damage due to seepage and other weather-related issues.

According to concerned comunidade stakeholders, a joint meeting was held on January 26 this year, with the Minister, Collector, Executive Engineer PWD, and comunidade representatives, during which it was agreed that the PWD Buildings Division would provide cost estimates within a week and the comunidades would arrange the necessary funds. Roof repairs were to be tendered and executed before the monsoon. However, the PWD has yet to provide estimates, causing frustration among the stakeholders.

“The comunidades are ready and willing to cooperate with the repair works, but we feel the Office of the Administrator of comunidades South Zone is not interested in pursuing the matter for reasons best known to them. To summarise, we the comunidades are disappointed with the Administrator and Collector for having failed and neglected to pursue the matter with the PWD,” the stakeholders said.

The stakeholders emphasized that roof repairs and internal work need to be carried out, with the roof repairs taking priority due to the monsoons. They added that the comunidades need to know the estimated cost, as the amount each comunidade must contribute can be determined only after that. The comunidades will then need to seek approval from their respective General Bodies for payment of the contribution.

Addressing speculation that the PWD had requested that the building be handed over to them, the stakeholders clarified that the building belongs to the comunidades of Salcete/South Zone and will never be given to the government. It is possible, they said, that the PWD Minister was suggesting that the building could be handed over to the PWD for repairs as a ‘deposit work’, to be returned to the comunidades afterward.