Goemkarponn Desk
CANACONA – A 98 year old Portuguese-era roof-tiles building has been declared unit for occupation in a stability report sought by Canacona Municipal Council(CMC). However, due to a pending court case, CMC’s action to demolish the same is likely to be delayed.
According to sources, following public outcry to take preventive and pre-emptive action of some of the unsafe buildings dangerously standing tall in municipal areas, CMC has reportedly after physician verification has referred five different buildings to the Goa Engineering College (GEC) for conduct of Stability reports on the same.
However, only one Structural Stability report of a building having house no.2-170 in Sr.No.60/3 having partially collapsed ground floor, but in some parts commercial activities are active at Chaudi is received from GEC, Farmagudi.
The Structural Stability report clearly mentions the Structure located adjacent to the Main road and partially collapsed have severe structural deficiencies is not fit for human occupation and needs to be removed safely to prevent any harm to public. ‘The Structure is not stable and fit for demolition’.
Incidentally, the stability report observed / highlight the roof of the structure at central part and backside has collapsed, leaving interiors exposed to rains. The wooden rafters supporting the partially collapsed roof structure have suffered extensive damage,. The woodworks within the structure such as doors and windows are in damaged condition., and the remaining portion of the building is at high risks of collapse. The main load carrying walls experienced partial collapse indicating severe structural deficiencies.
Interestingly, This 98 year old roof tiles building standing just adjacent to NH66 and next to Margao Bus-stop used to house an iconic Cafetaria Babu Hotel with Newspapers stand and used extensively until late Nineties. Besides, there were some vegetable shops, general store points, and some other commercial activities. However, after the passing away of Café Babu owner, the hotel stopped function after a period of time, while only a few of the commercial activities continued, while a litigation because order of the day for the main building.
As there was no maintenance to the building the backside of the building portion had collapsed way back in 2022, and according to sources, one of the tenant having claims over the building had reportedly approached a court to allow/permit for covering the collapsed portion with plastic or tarpaulin.
Now, while the Structural Stibility report has come recommending demolition of the buils as it unfit forhbuman occupation, according to Shankar Naik who have a claim on the building, a pending court case has come as a dampner for municipality to initiate the demolition of the building.
‘ A complainant has approached court only in 2023, and the court has give another date at the end of this month to hear a plea for allowing him to put plastics to cover the already partly damaged building, and till such time at least action to demolish the building has to be kept in abeyance by CMC’, Naik informed.
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