Staff Reporter | Margao
South Goa District Collector and Chairperson of the District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), Egna Cleetus has directed the Salcete Mamlatdar to evict all occupants operating commercial activities in the dilapidated ‘Holy Family House’ building located opposite Cine Lata in Margao, and to seal the premises—including its access point and staircases—within 24 hours.
The directive follows two incidents of concrete slab collapse from the structure, first on May 24 and again on June 10.
The collector has also instructed the police inspector of Margao town to deploy police personnel to assist the mamlatdar in executing the order.
Meanwhile, officials from the Traffic Cell have been asked to ensure no vehicles are parked near or around the building premises.
The Margao Municipal Council has also been directed to coordinate with the mamlatdar to facilitate smooth and swift execution of the order.
The order was came after a structural audit certificate submitted by the building owner, Fatima P Antao,
confirmed that the structure’s strength and stability were unsatisfactory. The audit was issued in October last year.
The Deputy Collector and SDO-I, Salcete, noted that the building is in a severely dilapidated condition and poses a threat to both occupants and passersby.
“The structure is commercially used and segments of the external balcony have been falling frequently, posing serious danger to the public,” the deputy collector stated.
Citing the above concerns and invoking powers under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the collector issued the order to ensure public safety.
