Raising Red Flag, the residents get government to stop construction at Quepem
The ongoing excavation for construction of a building in an existing housing complex near Selaulim canal in the Quepem area of South Goa district raised apprehensions among occupants about the danger to their building, as there was no setback kept and the excavated pit was flooded by groundwater springs during digging.
Machinery for the excavation of mud had been engaged by the promoters of Royal Arcade building. Six flat owners in the adjacent building complained that the builders dug a big, three-meter deep pit near the dead wall. After the excavation, numerous water springs erupted from the ground and filled the pit. Even though, two water pumps operated at the site but could not help pump out the water, resulting in the pit’s walls caving in.
The residents were petrified that the excavated portion may also lead to weakening of the foundation of their residential building that would ultimately lead to its collapse.
After receiving the complaint, Manoj Khorgaonkar, Quepem mamlatdar rushed to the site with his circle inspector and verbally ordered the builder to stop work. Quepem municipal council also issued a stop work order and asked the builder to come and report at tits office. Even after all this, the builders resumed work at 2.30pm. Residents then lodged a police complaint and deputy collector Ajit Panchwadker rushed to the site with his technical staff and instructed the builder to stop the work.
Source: The Times of India
Ajit Panchwadker, Deputy Collector, excavation, mamlatdar, Manoj Khorgaonkar, Quepem, Royal Arcade, Selaulim, South Goa
