PERNEM
The beautified premises of Shri Sateri Bharadi temple at Hankhane in Ibrampur-Pernem by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation at a cost of Rs 1.6 crore was inaugurated on Friday, but it was the poor public turnout that peeved Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar.
GTDC Chairman Ganesh Gaonkar inaugurated the beautified premises in the presense of Pernem MLA Pravin Arlekar, Ibrampur Sarpanch Ashok Dhawaskar, Devasthan Committee Chairman Laxman Naik, Panch members and Mopa Sarpanch Subodh Mahale.
Incidentally, former Ozari sarpanch Sangeeta Gaonkar was virtually the only woman among the audience and the absence of women from the village was also a talking point.
Arlekar was clearly displeased over the paltry turnout and expressed his displeasure by wondering if people were even aware that the temple premises had been beautified at a cost of Rs 1.6 crore.
He also sought to know the poor turnout at the event.
“The government has spent Rs 1.6 crore to beautify the temple premises. With such a low turnout, are people unhappy with the work or with the Devasthan committee? When such a huge amount of money is spent to beautify the temple premises, the entire village should have been present at the inaugural ceremony,” said Arlekar.
Sarpanch Ashok Dhawaskar also voiced his dismay over the poor attendance at the event and appealed to people to attend future events in large numbers.
Speaking on the occasion, GTDC Chairman MLA Ganesh Gaonkar said the State government has been ushering in various development projects in Pernem constituency.
