The Works

| 2002 |

Bicholim govt building is empty yet again 

Government buildings are normally constructed with a particular purpose in mind.

But what can be said of a building in Shantaram Nagar in Bordem-Bicholim which first started off as a hostel, then converted into a polytechnic institute, only to be switched into a primary school, before being partially utilised to house the Bal Bhavan.

Not to mention that the building also served as an English centre for some time and for yoga classes at another time.

Despite changing hands on numerous occasions, the building is now abandoned by authorities. Well, almost.

Three rooms are being used by the Bal Bhavan, while couples frequent other rooms for their rendezvous, taking advantage of its isolated and neglected surroundings.

Thick overgrown bushes have engulfed most parts of the building, while bits and pieces of the structure are already falling apart.

Residents in Shantaram Nagar were unhappy with the project right from the beginning, as the government chose to construct the building on land reserved as an open space for residents in the area.

“We don’t know who sold the property to the government, especially since it was meant to be an open space,” remarked a senior citizen, who resides in the vicinity.

Upset with the authorities for having neglected the building, residents have now decided to hold a meeting at Shantaram Nagar tomorrow to discuss the future course of action.

Was the building at Shantaram Nagar haunted or simply unlucky, that no association or institution was willing to occupy its premises for long?

Constructed under Central government scheme in 1986, the building was completed during the tenure of then local MLA and Social Welfare Minister Harish Zantye.

Spread over an area of about 950 sq mtrs, the building consists of about 14 rooms, some of which have been equipped with toilet facilities.

“Though we have been residing here for decades, we have never heard of this building ever being inaugurated,” complained the senior citizen, who decided to share the enigmatic history of the building.

“The building was first utilised under a government scheme to provide hostel facilities for the backward classes in the area,” informed the resident.

But instead of availing these facilities, the backward classes preferred to reside in adjoining areas of Shantaram Nagar.

The uninhabited building was then re-designated as a polytechnic institute.

The polytechnic institute functioned with minimal response for a few years, until the arrival of the new polytechnic institute at Mayem-Bicholim.

The building was to be abandoned yet again. A few months later, the government decided to start a primary school to cater to the four surrounding colonies of Shantaram Nagar, Sharda colony, Sudha colony and Harijan colony.

Regular teachers were even posted at the primary school.

Classes were conducted for some time, until the building was left vacant for the third time.

This time, the primary school and the staff shifted to its new premises.

In a desperate bid to make use of the building, the government tried to hand over the premises to a private education society for a monthly rent of about Rs 46,000.

While the society expressed willingness to run an ITI at the place, the proposal fell flat when the society insisted that the government should repair the dilapidated building.

Left vacant yet again, residents said the building was temporarily used by some NGOs for conducting programmes.

“For a short while, yoga classes were conducted in the building and an English Centre was also opened at the place,” informed the senior citizen.

The outcome was almost always the same — the building was vacated by almost every institution that sought refuge in its premises.

Finally, the government decided to get the Bal Bhavan to use the premises. The Bal Bhavan took over three rooms of the building and began to function with 60 students and seven staff members, six days a week.

In 1996, a new branch of the Bal Bhavan was setup near the Bicholim Assistant District Education Inspector’s (ADEI) office. Classes at the building in Shantaram Nagar were then reduced to thrice a week.

But there was another problem which gripped the Bal Bhavan at the Shantaram Nagar building.

“The children simply refused to go to the Bal Bhavan. They were frightened to enter into the premises because of the broken doors, weak structure and the thick bushes which cover the building,” explained a resident.

Residents of Shantaram Nagar were quick to blame local MLA and Transport Minister Pandurang Raut for neglecting the premises.

“If the minister had shown any interest, this building may have been saved from being ruined,” commented another resident.

Raut however refused to accept the blame for the project.

Replying to a query at a recent press conference, the minister said he had asked the local PWD to shift its office to the vacant building.

“But the PWD is yet to respond to my request,” claimed Raut.

When contacted, Bicholim Municipal councillor Shashikant Naik Halarnkar, who represents the area, claimed that the building is presently in the custody of the Education department.

“The concerned Assistant District Education Inspector in Bicholim should take steps to maintain the building,” remarked Halarnkar.

The councillor however admitted that the issue of the abandoned building was never discussed in any council meeting.

“Attempts were however made to give the building to the PWD. This move failed since the building is not part of a state government scheme,” informed Halarnkar.

Sources from the ADEI disclosed that the education department has already handed over the building to the private education society about two years ago.

“The sale deed has been completed, but the society is yet to take over the building,” informed an officer from the Bicholim ADEI department.

ADEI sources added that the PWD had estimated that the building could be given on a rental basis for about Rs 46,000 each month.

“The education society however demanded that the government should repair the building. An estimate was then prepared and the repairs worked out to nearly Rs 45 lakh,” explained the officer.

For some time, the PWD and the private education society entered into negotiations. The society eventually stopped interacting with the department.

A staff member at the local Bal Bhavan has also been unhappy with the premises.

“There is no electricity and water supply at the three rooms and thefts have become a routine problem,” complained the staffer.

“The locks on the door are broken almost every month. Other rooms in the building are used for immoral activities, a reason why locals are reluctant to send their children to the building,” informed the staff member.

Is the building destined to be isolated, only to be relegated as one of the many wasted government structures in the State?

“Definitely not. The building can be handed over to the police staff. While providing them proper accommodation it will also deter all immoral activities in the building, besides restricting robberies and burglaries in Bordem,” suggested a resident.

This is one suggestion he intends to put forth at the meeting with other residents, as they discuss the future of the troubled building in their locality.

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