Slab portion collapses in Usgao mkt, eatery owner escapes unhurt

Ponda: A portion of the ceiling of the Tisk-Usgao PDA market collapsed recently. However, no one was injured in the incident.
Suresh Naik, who runs a restaurant at the market, had a lucky escape. Naik was cleaning vegetables on a bench, and moved to pick up some plastic bags littered on the floor. Soon, the plaster fell at the spot where he was earlier seated on the bench.
The two-storey market complex houses 36 shops, with fish and vegetable vendors occupying the ground floor and a 900 seating capacity hall on the first floor.
There have been three such incidents, including in 2018 and July 2021. The complex is in a dilapidated condition for over 15 years, and poses a threat to vendors and visitors. The market occupants have been demanding a complete reconstruction of the building.
The building was constructed between 1992 and 1994 during current Ponda MLA Ravi Naik’s tenure as the chief minister.
It is currently under the South Goa Planning and Development Authority (SGPDA).