Panaji – Principal Chief Engineer Uttam Parsekar was found listening to Music in his Chamber at Altinho when Congress Delegation led by Amit Patkar stormed into his Office to question on negligence of Public Works Department towards Heritage and other Government Buildings. Congress has demanded immediate Structural & Safety Audits and immediate repairs of all Government Departments.
After the Incident of Collapse of Ceiling in Social Welfare Department, Congress Delegation comprising of GPCC President Amit Patkar, Adv. Srinivas Khalap, Vishal Volvoikar, Vivek D’Silva, Rajan Ghate, Pelajia Pires, Socorina Afonso and others questioned PCE Uttam parsekar over the failure of the PWD to undertake Safety & Structural Audits and repair works of the Government Buildings which were declared as “Deteriorating & in Dilapidated Condition” by the PWD in 2019.
PCE-PWD was found listening to loud music which continued even after the Congress Delegation started narrating the issue to him. Eventually, annoyed Congress Workers compelled PCE Uttam Parsekar to stop the loud music.
Congress President Amit Patkar produced replies given to Leader of Opposition Yuri Alemao by the PWD and General Administration Department clearly stating that the Social Welfare Department Office building in Panaji was declared as Unsafe in 2019. “It is unfortunate that the PWD did not do anything except doing some minor repairs knowing fully well that the said building is occupied by almost 250 Officials. In addition to them, Persons with Disabilities, Senior Citizens, Women visit the said building regularly”, stated Amit Patkar.
I have reply given to Goa Legislative Assembly in 2023 by PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral stating that Mathani Saldhana Administrative Complex (South Goa District Collectorate), Ravindra Bhavan Margao, Old GMC Building and Maquinez Palace at Campal, Bal Bhavan Annex at Campal, Junta House Panaji, various Government School buildings, Hospicio Hospital & Urban Health Centre at Margao, Old GMC Building at Ribandar which has Office of Goa Lokayukta are found in Bad & Deteriorating condition. Unfortunately, BJP Government did not do anything to repair these buildings, pointed Amit Patkar.
The carelessness of the PWD on Repairs and Renovations of Government Buildings including Heritage Buildings shows the total insensitivity towards the Common People. Government has money to spend multiple crores on Events but goes bankrupt to repair buildings including those where Government servants are staying, said Amit Patkar.
I suspect that the BJP Government is deliberately ignoring the maintenance of Heritage Buildings in Goa so that these Buildings will collapse and the Land will be given to Crony Capitalists to construct Multi-Storeyed Malls. Urban Health Centre at Margao collapsed due to negligence of the PWD, charged Amit Patkar.
Congress has demanded to undertake immediate Structural & Safety Audits and Repairs of all the Government Buildings and warned to launch a larger agitation if the PWD fails to take appropriate action. Congress President Amit Patkar has also told the PWD Officials that Congress MLAs will raise the issue in the upcoming Assembly Session.
