Aldona MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira said he would be taking up the issue of crumbling government buildings via a calling attention motion in the upcoming session of the assembly.
Speaking during a visit to the premises of the North Goa Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission located within a Housing Board building, Adv Ferreira said that he was shocked to see the conditions of the building and the threat it posed to the staff working there.
“I received information that pieces of the plaster are falling off and the windows are falling apart. It is dangerous for people visiting the office. I came to see. I have always taken up the issue that government buildings are becoming unsafe. We should not wait for someone to die to do the work,” Adv Ferreira said.
“There was a 2018 proposal. I have spoken to the engineer and I have called him tomorrow to submit what he has done so far. I don’t want to know what he proposes to do. I will make sure that not only the North Goa Forum will be safe, but every forum, even courts, should be places where people can come without fear,” Adv Ferreira said.
Adv Ferreira pointed out how 200, 300 years old Goan houses have survived and nothing has happened to them but here the government buildings do not even last ten years.
“So there is a compromise being done either at the building stage, or maintenance work is not being done. Even the schools are falling and it is unsafe for children. Veterinary services at Tonca that it is falling and pieces are falling and the building is unsafe,” he said.
“We must pull up the government when they do not take action. It is mismanagement by the government. Just because you build a big bridge, it doesn’t solve the problem. You have to think about maintenance,” he added.
“I will raise a calling attention on the floor of the house. Not just this building, but I will speak about all the buildings including the schools which are in bad shape and a risk to those working there. You can’t say that the Commission will do it, they have their own work to do. This building belongs to the Housing Board. I heard that there is a Society. It is a duty of the society to do maintenance. If they don’t have money they can request from the Housing Board,” he added.