MAPUSA: Several government-owned buildings in the Pernem Taluka, which were once revenue-generating sources, are presently in a dilapidated condition and have slowly turned into white elephants when they could have been used to house government offices.
This is particularly apparent in Pernem’s municipal jurisdiction where a number of Portuguese-era structures owned by the government are lying in a shambles while the State has chosen to house some offices in private buildings and pay rent. An example of this is the Pernem post office which is presently functioning out of a rented premises while the original government-owned building that once housed it has been abandoned.
The municipal town hall, which once raked in revenue through the various taluka-level functions and exhibitions hosted there, has also been neglected.
“When I was studying in a nearby school, I used to see several functions and exhibitions under way in the Pernem municipality’s town hall. However, for the last several years, all I can see are garbage bins dumped near it,” Priyanka Raul, a local, said.
Similar is the case of the tourist house at Malpe. Earlier used by government staff for official stays, it is presently unused and has turned into a white elephant for the government.
“Pernem town has witnessed the least development so far. Other than the bus stand, nothing else has been upgraded. So, instead of abandoning old structures, the government should think of developing them in order to generate some revenue,” another local said.
