The building which housed the Penha de Franca Panchayat Library near Hanuman Temple. Captured by : Anil Shankhwalker
PORVORIM
For over three years, the Penha de Franca panchayat could not demolish the old panchayat library building and construct a new building, but there is now a ray of hope as the building is likely to be renovated.
According to sources, the old panchayat library building, located near Hanuman Temple at Porvorim, had become pathetic and pieces of the roof slab began falling down. This prompted the panchayat to consider the demolition of the old building and construction of a new building in its place.
A resolution to this effect was passed in the Gram Sabha on July 30, 2017. The library was later shifted to the Nana Nani Park in June 2019 and a proposal to construct a new building was sent by the panchayat to the Town and Country Planning department.
The panchayat also prohibited children from playing in the park developed opposite the library building out of fear that children may start playing in the abandoned panchayat building.
However, the TCP did not approve the proposal of constructing a new panchayat library building on grounds that the existing building had been constructed in open space.
When contacted, former Penha de Franca sarpanch Gurunath Vernekar said the existing library building was constructed in 2005 through MPLAD funds.
“The proposal to construct the new panchayat library building was submitted to TCP when I was the sarpanch. Since the TCP did not approve the proposal, the panchayat resubmitted the revised proposal for the repair/renovation of the panchayat library building. The file remained pending in the TCP as there was no proper follow-up,” said Vernekar.
“Now after pursuing the matter, the TCP has given clearance to the repair/renovation of the existing building. The Penha de Franca panchayat now will have to obtain the Stability Report from the Public Works Department and submit the same to the Directorate of Panchayat along with TCP clearance for approval.”
“The existing building will be repaired/renovated under the Golden Jubilee funds received from the State government,” said Vernekar.
According to sources, the old panchayat library building, located near Hanuman Temple at Porvorim, had become pathetic and pieces of the roof slab began falling down. This prompted the panchayat to consider the demolition of the old building and construction of a new building in its place.
A resolution to this effect was passed in the Gram Sabha on July 30, 2017. The library was later shifted to the Nana Nani Park in June 2019 and a proposal to construct a new building was sent by the panchayat to the Town and Country Planning department.
The panchayat also prohibited children from playing in the park developed opposite the library building out of fear that children may start playing in the abandoned panchayat building.
However, the TCP did not approve the proposal of constructing a new panchayat library building on grounds that the existing building had been constructed in open space.
When contacted, former Penha de Franca sarpanch Gurunath Vernekar said the existing library building was constructed in 2005 through MPLAD funds.
“The proposal to construct the new panchayat library building was submitted to TCP when I was the sarpanch. Since the TCP did not approve the proposal, the panchayat resubmitted the revised proposal for the repair/renovation of the panchayat library building. The file remained pending in the TCP as there was no proper follow-up,” said Vernekar.
“Now after pursuing the matter, the TCP has given clearance to the repair/renovation of the existing building. The Penha de Franca panchayat now will have to obtain the Stability Report from the Public Works Department and submit the same to the Directorate of Panchayat along with TCP clearance for approval.”
“The existing building will be repaired/renovated under the Golden Jubilee funds received from the State government,” said Vernekar.
