PANAJI: Majority of the urban local bodies in Goa have reported that they cannot perform structural audits of dilapidated buildings within their jurisdiction due to lack of resources.
“Due to huge expenditure and requirement of technical expertise and scientific tools they are not in a position to carry out structural audit of buildings,” Bicholim, Canacona, Cuncolim, Curchorem, Margao, Quepem, Sankhali and Valpoi municipal councils said through the urban development department to a query on old and unsafe buildings by Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar.
The councils said that they do not have “absolute rights” to carry out structural audit of private buildings, however if any such case is brought to their notice then they direct the private individual to carry out the structural audit and in case of govt buildings they write to the Goa College of Engineering (GCE) to conduct the audit.
Most of the municipalities said that they identify dilapidated buildings and issue notices to the owners to pull down, secure or repair such structures.
The Corporation of the City of Panaji has said that till date it has carried out structural audits of five buildings while the Sanguem Municipal Council has said that it has identified its town hall building as unsafe and dilapidated. It said that the GCE’s audit report states that the building is not fit for strengthening or restoration as the main load transfer system has deteriorated. It also said that a demolition agency has been appointed by the council and subsequently notices were sent to occupiers to vacate the premises.
The Ponda Municipal Council has identified a private building, Farooqui Mansion at Kaziwada, as structurally unfit and an eviction notice has been sent to the occupants. The Pernem Municipal Council has said that it sends requisition to the PWD (buildings section) to carry out structural audit whenever an unsafe structure is identified.
The Mormugao Municipal Council said that structural audit is not being done by them, however it has issued notices under Municipalities Act, 1968, in 2018. The council said it had written to the GCE to examine the condition of its building. The Mapusa Municipal Council has said that it has not done any structural audit of the buildings within its jurisdiction since most of the structures are private properties and some are on govt properties.
