Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: Vasco was gripped by alarm on Friday morning when two balconies of Happy Apartments came crashing down, an incident linked to the ongoing monsoon fury that has left several ageing structures across the State vulnerable. While no injuries were reported, a two-wheeler parked in the basement of the building was damaged.
The collapse once again highlighted the dangerous condition of old residential complexes in the port town, particularly as heavy rains continue to batter Goa. Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar, accompanied by councillor Shami Salkar, rushed to the site soon after the mishap. The Mamlatdar, Traffic Cell, and Fire Brigade were also pressed into action to assess the safety of the building.
Salkar told reporters that the incident was a grim reminder of how torrential rains hasten the deterioration of weak and neglected structures. “This is not an isolated case. With the kind of heavy downpour we are witnessing this season, several dilapidated buildings are at risk of collapse. Immediate government intervention is necessary to prevent a disaster,” he said.
Calling on Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant to frame a strict policy to tackle unsafe buildings, Salkar reiterated his long-standing demand that owners of such structures be held accountable. He proposed that the government be empowered to demolish dangerous premises, seal them, and recover costs and penalties from negligent owners.
Citing the precarious condition of another building near the Vasco police station, the MLA warned that lives could be lost if urgent steps are not taken. “The relentless rains have weakened many old buildings further. We cannot wait for a tragedy to strike. Immediate demolition of unsafe buildings is the only way forward,” Salkar stressed.
