Team Goemkarponn
VASCO: A portion of the slab of a dilapidated building in Vasco collapsed on Monday, raising fresh concerns over the safety of ageing structures in the town. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Following the collapse, Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar visited the site to assess the situation and interacted with the building owners and local residents. During the inspection, the owners informed him that they had already decided to demolish the unsafe structure before the annual Saptah festivities to eliminate any risk to the public.
Expressing concern over the growing number of dangerous buildings in Vasco, Salkar called for stringent action against owners who fail to maintain or secure such structures despite being aware of the risks they pose.
He said owners of dilapidated buildings that endanger public safety should face criminal liability if their negligence results in accidents, injuries or loss of life. According to Salkar, issuing notices alone is not enough when unsafe buildings continue to remain in a hazardous condition for prolonged periods.
“Innocent pedestrians and motorists cannot be made to pay the price for the negligence of building owners. Action must be taken before a tragedy occurs,” Salkar said.
He also stressed the need for regular inspections of old and weakened buildings and timely action to ensure owners either repair or demolish unsafe structures before they pose a threat to the public.
The incident has once again highlighted concerns over several ageing buildings in Vasco, particularly in busy commercial and residential areas, with residents urging authorities to take preventive measures before another mishap occurs.
