Dilapidated administrative building, deteriorating official records spark urgent call for action from government
The South Goa Administrator of Comunidade building at Margao.
Photo Credits: The Goan
MARGAO
It’s official. The South Goa Administrator of Comunidades building is in a dilapidated condition for want of repair; records lying in bad shape with many records not traceable and a manpower crunch affecting the day-to-day administration et al.
Is there a way forward not just to protect the valuable records and restore the imposing building to its pristine glory? Notwithstanding promises galore made by successive governments over the years, the decades-old building is craving attention. The status of the government’s proposal to repair and renovate the South Comunidade building through the PWD remains unknown.
That the officials manning the office of the Administrator of Comunidades, South Goa have now acknowledged the deterioration of the situation reflects the fears expressed by the components of South Goa Comunidades that all is not well with the building, official records and the administration.
A meeting chaired by the South Goa District Collector, Asvin Chandru with officials and components of Comunidades provides an insight into the issues, ranging from the status of office records to the building and manpower crunch, plaguing the Administration of Comunidade office and building.
Status of office records
The Administrator of Comunidades of South Zone Mangaldas Gaonkar conceded at the meeting that the condition of the office records of the Office of the Administrator of Comunidades, South Zone is in a very bad state. Many records are also not traceable.
A component of Comunidades, Franky Monteiro claimed even the data on the recent complaints/cases is missing, as can be seen from the replies given to LAQs during the Legislative Assembly of the monsoon session.
Solution: The meeting decided that the old documents need to be digitalised. A suggestion was made to adopt an e-court monitoring system in the Office.
As a suggestion was made to archive the records to ensure their safety, the Collector told the Administrator of Comunidades, South Zone, to move a proposal to the government and Directorate of Archives and Archaeology.
Status of building
It was pointed out that the condition of the building of the Administrator of Comunidades of South Zone is in bad condition and requires urgent repairs and renovation. Since the government had recently decided that the PWD Buildings will look into the repairs and renovation of government buildings, the Comunidade Administrator was told to follow up on the proposal with PWD.
The comunidade representatives pointed out that they were consenting to the repair and renovation of the building by PWD only on the condition that the ownership rights of the South Zone Comunidades in the building are not diluted in any manner whatsoever.
The Administrator was directed to take steps to evict all unlawful occupants in the building under the Public Premises Act and it was decided that after repair and renovation works are completed, the hall space on the south-eastern side on the first floor shall be made available for use of South Goa Comunidade Forum.
Status of complaints
District Collector Asvin Chandru has directed the Administrator of Comunidades to take up the demolition drive soon after the monsoon. The Comunidade Forum has agreed to provide financial assistance from their side "when required”.
The Collector’s directions come in the wake of complaints relating to the violation of the Code of Comunidade, illegal construction, hill cutting/landfilling and the absence of compliance/disposal by the Administrator of Comunidades of South Zone. Further, it was pointed out that many demolition orders were awaiting execution.
Collector’s other directions
The Administrator of Comunidades has been told to adopt a mechanism along the lines of a flying squad to stop illegal construction, comprising Talathi, Flying Squad, Attorney and Escrivao, besides a surveyor from the ISLR.
The Administrator was directed that if any tenant uses the land for a purpose other than cultivation, then an application under the Tenancy Act for Negative Declaration be made to the concerned Taluka Mamlatdar.
The Collector issued directions to clear all the pending cheques regarding dividends and Derrama within seven days. Directions were also issued to the Administrator to clear the registration of shares so that they could contest for the Comunidade election.
Further directions were issued to prepare and circulate the annual ordinary budget amongst the comunidades, being the shareholders and stakeholders, before it is sent to seek the government's approval.
