Margao: Residents of Quepem have expressed concern over the prolonged delay in completing the town’s new police station building, with construction having remained stalled for years and the abandoned structure now overrun by vegetation.The unchecked growth around the half-finished building, located at the entrance to Quepem town, has raised fears of it becoming a public health hazard, prompting residents to urge the authorities to at least clear the premises if work cannot resume immediately.“The half-constructed building has become an eyesore. Wild vegetation has led to the presence of reptiles and mosquito breeding, and it could soon pose a serious health risk. If the government cannot complete the project right away, it should at least clean up the surroundings,” said local businessman Evangelist Da Costa.Social activist Azim Shaikh said the long-pending project deserved priority. “Govt is spending money on projects that are not essential, but this police station is a basic requirement for the people of Quepem. The building should be completed without further delay, and the premises must be properly maintained in the meantime,” he said.As reported by TOI earlier, a reply to a question tabled by MLA Altone D’Costa in the legislative assembly revealed that while the reinforced cement concrete (RCC) structure has been completed, the finishing works remain stalled due to the absence of expenditure approval. No fresh work order has been issued to the contractor.The project, sanctioned in Nov 2016, ran into cost overruns after soil tests necessitated a change in the foundation design, exhausting the original Rs 5-crore allocation before finishing work could begin. A revised estimate of Rs 5.2 crore covering finishing works, utilities, the compound wall and landscaping was subsequently approved and awarded. However, work has yet to resume.
