Daijiworld Media Network - Vasco
Vasco, Jul 27: As monsoon rains sweep across Goa, a quiet but dangerous crisis looms over Mormugao taluka. Scattered across Vasco, Baina, and Zuarinagar are dozens of abandoned or deteriorating buildings — some decades old — now crumbling, yet left untouched by authorities. Residents warn these structures are more than just eyesores: they are accidents and crimes waiting to happen.
Vasco: Public at Risk Amid Structural Decay
In the heart of Vasco city, nearly 30 buildings within the Mormugao Municipal Council (MMC) jurisdiction have been marked as unsafe, yet many still function as commercial hubs. Ground-floor shops remain operational while their upper floors sag with cracks, rusted steel beams, and falling concrete — exposing pedestrians and customers to serious risk.
“The danger becomes critical during major festivals like Damodar Saptah, when thousands gather in central Vasco,” a municipal official revealed. “We’ve had near-misses — chunks of concrete falling dangerously close to people. But either landlords don’t respond to notices or tenants refuse to vacate.”
Baina: From Quarters to Criminal Dens
In Baina, a set of derelict Public Works Department (PWD) quarters has turned into a hub for illicit activity. Locals report the abandoned blocks have been taken over by drug users, alcoholics, and criminal elements, raising fears that these forgotten buildings may serve as hideouts after crimes are committed.
“These quarters should’ve been demolished years ago,” said a long-time resident. “Now, they’ve become a magnet for trouble. Families living nearby are scared — not just of collapsing walls, but of who might be lurking inside.”
Repeated complaints to the police have gone unanswered, while calls to redevelop the area into modern housing blocks remain unheeded.
Zuarinagar: A Market that Never Was
In Zuarinagar, a ghost market complex stands as a monument to broken promises. Initiated in 2013 by late leaders Matanhy Saldanha and Manohar Parrikar, the project was intended to modernize local vending infrastructure. Instead, it was abandoned midway and now serves a different purpose.
“Crores were spent, and it still lies rotting,” said Mahesh Nadar, Working President of the Goa Pradesh Youth Congress, during a visit to the site.
“Miscreants have taken over. Families are at risk. Even after a visit from the chief minister, nothing has been done.”
Nadar demanded a special committee be formed to restart construction and stronger police presence to deter misuse.
Call for Redevelopment and Accountability
Vasco MLA Krishna Salkar has raised the issue in the Goa Assembly, urging that dangerous buildings be demolished or sealed immediately. Though one derelict structure on Swatantra Path was finally taken down in 2023 after years of complaints, most remain untouched.
Salkar has proposed redevelopment through a public-private partnership (PPP) and discussed housing and market projects with urban authorities. While proposals for a new fish market and sports complex are in progress, little has moved on residential redevelopment.
Incentives like higher Floor Area Ratio (FAR) under the Special Planning Regulations (SPR) have been introduced, but implementation is tangled in legal disputes, unclear ownership, and mistrust among stakeholders.
A Brewing Disaster
Until swift and decisive action is taken, Mormugao’s landscape remains riddled with threats. The next downpour or criminal incident could turn one of these forgotten ruins into the site of tragedy — a fate residents warn is not just possible, but inevitable without urgent government intervention.