THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
It's been 20 years and three corner stones have been laid since but the Siridao-Palem Panchayat Ghar has yet to see the light of the day.
Speaking to reporters on the issue, panch Manoj Palkar, who is also the St Andre Congress Block president, informed that the first corner stone was laid way back in 2004.
"Later, another corner stone was laid in 2019 and then again in 2021. But till date, the Panchayat Ghar is yet to be complete and the current panchayat is functioning from a rented premises," Palkar stated.
Interestingly, on all three occasions former St Andre MLA Francisco Silveira laid the foundation stones.
Palkar further informed that the current MLA Viresh Borkar then organised a Bhoomi Poojan after which the work resumed, only to be halted.
"In absence of our own Panchayat Ghar we are suffering as we have to spend money in paying rent. This money would have been used for development purpose," Palkar said, while adding that the panchayat authorities have contacted all authorities concerned on the issue but without success.
Palkar further requested Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, who is also the chairman of GSIDC, to direct GSIDC authorities to complete the Panchayat Ghar project soon.
MLA blames constant change
of consultants for delay
THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar has clarified that the Siridao-Palem Panchayat Ghar project has been delayed due to constant change of consultants.
"When the project was initially approved in 2016, there was one consultant appointed. But later another consultant was appointed as the land where the project was planned proved to be a challenging area due to underground springs," Borkar said.
"After that, the project got stalled and when I got elected, I followed up on the issue and revived the project. But very soon, the project was halted by GSIDC which cited that there needed to be some changes in the project," the MLA said while adding that a third consultant was then appointed for the project.
"Now, the project report is ready and the work should start soon," Borkar informed while alleging that there is political interference in the stalling of the project.
"Otherwise how does one explain the constant change of consultants for the project?" Borkar posed.
