the goan I network
VASCO
Historian Prajal Sakhardande has urged government agencies and civic bodies to protect monuments and the heritage Mormugao Fort and has also demanded restoration of the historic site by the Department of Archives and Archaeology.
He was speaking to reporters when the History Lovers Group members visited the Mormugao Fort, which is based near the MPT administrative office on Sunday.
They were upset to find miscreants misusing the fort to drink alcohol and using it as a lover’s point, while the fort was littered with garbage.
Sakhardande urged the Archives department and government to take action to protect sites from miscreants and to restore the Mormugao Fort to its former glory.
“I was a part of Soul Travelling and Mormugao Heritage Walk programme arranged by social worker Tejas Pandit and Varun Hegde. When we reached Mormugao Fort, we could see plastic, beer cans, empty chips packets and all trash,” said Sakhardande.
“Youth come here and litter the place with garbage. The fort is a historic place, but has been made so dirty with all this trash. I appeal to the government to appoint a watchman here and fine people littering the place, while also stop youth from creating a mess here.”
“I am told the Archaeology department will take up the conservation of this monument,” he added.
Social worker Tejas Pandit said he had already written a letter to Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant and TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai seeking the restoration of Mormugao Fort.
“It is a proud moment for us Vascokars that we have the Mormugao fort as a protected monument, but the area comes under MPT premises. Every time we come here for a heritage walk, we see a lot of beer bottles and trash.”
“Ideally, this place should have been clean because it has a history behind it and sometimes we feel local authorities are just not bothered.”
“The last restoration done in Vasco was that of the clock tower by Suvarna Bandekar. There are 51 protected monuments in Vasco and if restoration takes time, the government must tie up with locals for the safety and security of such monuments which could also generate employment as well,” said Pandit.
Mormugao Fort to be restored,
beautified, says Mahale
VASCO: Department of Archaeology and Archives Assistant Conservator Sumesh Mahale has said the heritage Mormugao Fort would be taken up for restoration and beautification soon.
“Mormugao Fort is a protected monument under our Archives and Archaeology department and we have put up information signboards and dustbins. We will soon take up the fort for restoration.” “Every year we clear vegetation at Mormugao Fort and we have also appointed monument attenders who collect garbage from the two dustbins put up in the fort.”
“We have also written to MMC to collect garbage from here on a daily basis. We will also take up beautification in and around the fort and will give it back to Vascokars as a clean and nice place of heritage,” assured Mahale.
