Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The function for laying foundation stone for Mayem panchayat building, for the third time, took a different turn of events, as the Mayem MLA and the BJP ministers called off their attendance at the last minute.
However, the panchayat went ahead with the function and laid the foundation stone.
The foundation stone laying function was mired in controversy since the moment invitation was sent out to the authorities concerned, as this was the third such invitation.
According to records, way back in 2003 when BJP’s Prakash Phadte was the Mayem MLA, an invitation sent out for the foundation stone laying function.
Later, an invitation was sent out by the BJP in the year 2016 when Anant Shet was the Mayem MLA.
When the third invitation was received by the locals, some took to Facebook to heap scorn and ridicule on the government for laying foundation stone for the third time, when the panchayat building was still a distant dream.
On Thursday, the panchayat had done all the arrangements for the function, but at the last minute, the government called off the function without giving any reason.
Angered with this, the panchayat supported by ex-speaker Anant Shet decided to go forward with the function; and Sarpanch Vijay Pole laid the foundation stone. Out of 12 panch members, six were present.
Later speaking to media persons, Mayem Sarpanch Vijay Pole said, “We are not aware of reason behind the absence of the MLA and the ministers for the function. But as per the schedule, we conducted the function as we had called all the villagers and we want building be constructed at the earliest.”
The following were scheduled to attend the function: Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho, GSIDC Chairman Deepak Prabhu Pauskar, GSIDC Vice-Chairman Siddharth Kuncalienkar and Mayem MLA Pravin Zantye.
