Team Herald
PANJIM: The unoccupied building which had partially collapsed was completely demolished on Sunday by the authorities and the decision to do so was taken as a safety measure.
The demolition had started on Saturday night and was completed by Sunday evening. This the second building which has been demolished within a week. Last week, a house on MG Road was demolished because it caved in due to heavy rains.
Fear had gripped the locals after part of the dilapidated building collapsed on Saturday evening. Local residents said that two months back they had informed Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) and Taleigao Panchayat about the about 40-year-old building.
A local resident said, "Recently Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the assembly that he will order for demolition of old buildings. But what about these type of buildings which are more dangerous?. These type of buildings are coming up because government is giving opportunity to builders. Before constructing the building, soil testing should have been done. We had given a complaint to the CCP. District Collector should have taken note of it," he said.
He said there are other buildings also which need to be demolished.
Taleigao MLA Jeniffer Monserrate said, "There are two houses next to the building. We will make sure that everything is done properly. The building belonged to some private person and we had sent him notices stating the the building is unsafe. May be there would not have been follow up but from the CCP side I am sure a letter would have been sent to the owner."
After the incident took place, the site was also visited by Corporation of the City of Panjim (CCP) Mayor Rohit Monserrate and North Goa District Collector Sneha Gitte, IAS.
Rohit Monserrate said that stability report of other buildings will sought and if required they too will be demolished after getting order from District Collector.