TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has asked the PWD executive engineer, works division IV to file a compliance report on May 6 regarding the functioning of air-conditioners in the Central Library at Patto-Panjim.
Hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) suo motu, the Court asked the amicus curiae Eshan Usapkar to visit the library on May 4 and 5 and apprise the court of the status of the air-conditioning in the attic. The curator of the Central Library must render all assistance to the amicus curiae, it said.
Government advocate Maria Correia stated that air-conditioning on the fifth floor of Central Library was functioning properly. But as far as attic floor was concerned, there was a problem, and until this problem was sorted out, at least four ton tower ACs will be procured and placed in the attic. She stated that the installation would be completed latest by Friday, May 3. This means that the attic will be suitably cooled with these tower ACs, latest by May 3.
Stating that excuses were given in the past, which we were unable to appreciate, the court said, “The government has already spent almost Rs 1.89 crore for the air-conditioning and the Court was informed that everything was in order. Therefore, it is not proper to put-forth technical excuses and deprive the users of this library benefit of air-conditioning. The question is not only of the users but also proper maintenance of the books and other literary treasures that are used in the library.”
