PANAJI
Once Goa’s seat of power across three regimes -- the Adilshai, Portuguese and post-Liberation governments -- the Adilshah Palace (Old Secretariat) has changed hands from the department of Art and Culture to the Museum department just a week ago.
According to information furnished to the Goa Legislative Assembly, the majestic heritage edifice, right on the banks of the Mandovi river, was in the custody of the Art and Culture department for seventeen long years since the State government moved its secretariat to the new complex in Porvorim.
It was initially repaired back in 2005-06 but major repairs and renovation was carried out by the Goa State Infrastructure Development Corporation (GSIDC) back in 2014.
Art and Culture Minister Govind Gaude in a written response to a query posed by Curtorim MLA Aleixo Reginald Lourenco on the status of the building has said, that his department had asked the PWD to execute minor repairs and maintenance works first in 2021 and in February this year.
However, last week the entire Old Secretariat building has been formally entrusted to the Museum department following a direction from the General Administration Department (GAD).
At present, the building houses the headquarters of the Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL), an office of the Kala Academy and of the Directorate of Museum. The Department of Information and Publicity also maintains a Press Room on its ground floor facing the Mandovi river.
