MAPUSA: It’s been two years the Athaide Municipal Library, which lies in a pathetic state, stands shut for the public with the Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) adopting a “casual approach” in providing a temporary library for book lovers.
The building housing the library needs urgent restoration/reconstruction.
In September 2019, the erstwhile council had accorded approval to convert it into a district library and the last council had resolved to hand over the old municipal building housing the library to the Art and Culture Department to set up the District Library. Following the resolution, Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude had inspected the building.
The department had estimated the renovation cost of the old municipal building to be around Rs 8 crore and the work had to be ready by June 2020.
However, when the new council was formed, the civic body wanted to retain the premises, instead of handing it over to the Art and Culture Department. However the council later resolved to take up the work of the new library under GSUDA instead of handing it over to the Art and Culture Department.
MMC chairperson Shubhangi Vaigankar said the process is in progress.
Earlier, when MMC had decided to go in for a new library, former chairperson Ryan Braganza had assured to make temporary provision of the library for the town residents. He had said the process is in progress but now it’s been two years since there is no library in Mapusa.
The town residents had even suggested some areas where the MMC could make a temporary provision till the full fledged library is ready.
