MAPUSA: The old St Mary's Convent High School, one of the finest heritage buildings in Mapusa, will be restored and converted into the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) office.The Mapusa municipality has issued a tender for the renovation of the building and work will be carried out utilizing the Golden Jubilee package.

The structure was inaugurated in 1933 as Liceu Municipal in the colonial era. Later the Mapusa municipality was shifted to another building and the space was given to the St Mary's Convent High School. The heritage municipal building was vacated by the school in 1997.

"The municipality had arranged the new land for the school and since then the building has been lying vacant," said MMC chairperson Sudhir Kandolkar.

Architects and prominent citizens had taken up the issue with the then MMC chairperson in November, 2010, when the legwork had begun to preserve the heritage building which is in disuse and in danger of coming down if neglected.The MMC, in November 2011, in its council meeting had resolved to use its one-time grant of 2 crore for the renovation.

The MMC has got technical sanction to renovate the building which is on municipality property. The municipality has invited the tender for the same. The current MMC administrative building will be used as a library.

The structure is of great architectural beauty and will enhance the importance of the MMC after its amelioration. There is a lot of space for parking in front of the building which is a plus-point.The council has also decided to use 50 lakh from the grant for the renovation of the old mamlatdar building near the municipality, which will then be used for commercial purpose.