Council, GSUDA officials assurance to take up work in vain
MARGAO
It was Friday noon. A small portion of a ceiling plaster of the heritage Margao Municipal building came down on the pavement. The debris fallen on the pavement appeared negligible, but the bigger question remains unanswered – when will the government or the Margao Municipal Council finally taken up the renovation of the 118-year old Municipal building, craving for attention over the years?
During the heavy rains in the current monsoons, a cement plaster of the building’s first floor had come crashing down in the passage adjoining the Municipal hall, triggering concern over the structural stability of the Portuguese-era heritage building, which has complete 118 years this year.
Friday’s incident, though negligible, has only brought to the fore concerns about the fate of the building. Ask the councillors and Municipal babus, besides the powers that be over plans to renovate and beautify the heritage building, and they would all reply with one voice saying the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA) has been entrusted the renovation work by the civic body.
A call to the GSUDA officials would receive a similar reply, saying the agency will take up the renovation work on the MMC building. Sadly, Madgavkars have been hearing this reply over the last couple of years, but the ground reality remains unchanged.
A glance at the MMC building would reveal that plastic sheets, which were put up on the building walls, to stop water seepage during the monsoons, have not been removed till date. A plastic sheet covering the building roof on the western portion is a grim reminder that all is not well with the heritage building.
Both MMC and GSUDA officials, besides Margao MLA Digambar Kamat have time and again assured that GSUDA will take up the MMC building renovation work, but in vain.
The often-asked question that remains unanswered is when would the MMC or GSUDA take up the renovation work: Will the work be executed immediately and completed before the next monsoons or whether Madgavkars will have to wait till 2024 end for the authorities to spruce up the heritage building?
