Panchayats and municipal bodies to audit old buildings

Panaji: The district collectors have been asked to instruct municipal bodies and panchayats to carry out safety audits of structurally unsound buildings or structures, including abandoned ones or those deemed unsafe for occupation.

A directive in this regard has been issued by the revenue department.The safety audits must be conducted by technical experts and based on these reports, action will be taken.The two district collectors have been empowered to take ‘urgent’ steps such as barricading, evacuation, or demolition of hazardous structures, as required for public safety, particularly those in densely populated or urban areas.“In the event that local authorities, such as municipalities or panchayats, fail to act promptly, the district collector is entitled to exercise the powers conferred under the District Disaster Management Act, 2005,” the circular issued by revenue under secretary Agnelo D’Souza said.

The circular has been sent to the North Goa and South Goa district disaster management authorities.The District Disaster Management Act allows the collectors to appoint officers or departments at the district or local level to undertake disaster prevention measures. It also permits the construction of essential infrastructure and the demolition of dangerous buildings.The Corporation of the City of Panaji has already announced that it will move to demolish the El Dorado building, which is currently leaning precariously.

The occupants of the building have already been asked to vacate.District authorities are empowered to implement preventive and remedial measures to assist, safeguard, and promote the welfare of the local community in the face of disaster risks or occurrences. Due to the heavy showers, quite a few buildings in Panaji, Margao, Vasco, and other towns have shown signs of collapse.