THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
It seems Mapusa’s long-awaited municipal library is better at dodging inaugurations than welcoming readers.
For the third time in a matter of weeks, hope stirs once again as authorities prepare “ yet again “ to inaugurate two long-pending civic projects: the renovated Athaide Municipal Library and a six-storey commercial complex.
But if past patterns are anything to go by, the waiting continues to be the only regular feature.
The double-bill inauguration, now re-scheduled for Friday, June 6 at 4.30 pm, comes after two mysterious postponements, officially cited as “unavoidable circumstances.”
The first ceremony was lined up for April 23 and then rescheduled for June 2, only to be quietly shelved both times, leaving residents and invitees confused, if not mildly amused.
"I think the books are still waiting to be dusted off or maybe the ribbon has gone missing," joked a senior citizen who frequented the library before its abrupt closure in 2019.
"But on a serious note, how long do we need to wait for something as basic and vital as a public library?" he added.
The Athaide Library, nestled in the historic municipal building, has remained shut for six long years “ officially for “renovation” but practically out of public reach and civic memory.
The building’s facelift, pegged at Rs 3.8 crore, was carried out under the supervision of the Goa State Urban Development Agency (GSUDA).
Parallelly, a towering Rs 20-crore six-storey commercial complex has sprouted nearby, promising urban vibrancy, if not timely completion.
The inaugural ceremony is scheduled for the evening with the Urban Development Minister and GSUDA Chairman Vishwajit Rane expected to grace the occasion.
After two false alarms, locals have demanded immediate reopening of the public library that has been held hostage by administrative foot-dragging.
"People need access to knowledge, not just fancy plaques and ribbon-cutting rituals. It’s a shame that a facility meant for public learning and engagement has been treated as an afterthought," said a resident who requested anonymity.
