Goa govt to conduct audit of buildings over 3-decade old

In a move which could have an impact on Portuguese-era mansions in the state, the Goa government today decided to conduct audit of buildings that are more than 30 years old and make it mandatory for these structures to provide stability certificate every five years.
"Government will conduct audit of all the buildings that are more than thirty years old. There are many houses which are on the verge of collapse," Deputy Chief Minister Francis D'Souza said here, after inaugurating the renovated building of the Town and Country Planning Department.
D'Souza said the audit of the government buildings will start first, after which private buildings would be checked.

"The buildings would be checked for their stability for which a panel of structure engineers would be formed," he added.
He said that the buildings which are ground plus one floor would have to go for auditing.
The minister said the audit will also include Portuguese- era mansions and houses.

These buildings, he said, will have to provide stability certificate every five years to the government.
D'Souza said the state government will amend the existing Town and Country Planning Act.
The minister conceded that the state does not have any record of life of the buildings. "The municipalities are supposed to have such a record. But now we will collect data from across the state including the village panchayat limits," the deputy chief minister said.