MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday said that the Aguada museum set up in the renovated Fort Aguada will be thrown open for public viewing from September 1.
Sawant also said that school students will be allowed free entry into the museum for the entire year on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the Indian Independence.
“A short film on the history of the Aguada fort is ready. The Aguada jail museum will be thrown open for public viewing from September 1 onwards. While tourists will be charged an entry fee, school students will be allowed entry free of cost for the entire year,” Sawant said.
The Chief Minister was addressing a gathering after hoisting the national flag on Fort Aguada as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav to celebrate the platinum jubilee of India’s Independence.
As part of the 75th anniversary of Independence, Fort Aguada was selected as one of the historic monuments across the country by the Central government to hoist the tricolour.
Tourism minister Rohan Khaunte, Chairman of Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC), Ganesh Gaonkar, Calangute MLA, Michael Lobo and other leaders were also present.
The CM felicitated five freedom fighters – Raya Shirodkar, Prabhakar Naik, Shyamsundar Kalangutkar, Rohidas Dessai and Santan Dias – on the occasion.
Going down the memory lane, Sawant said Goa was never short of resources, on the contrary Goa was rich that is why Portuguese came here and ruled over 400 years.
He said many freedom fighters have sacrificed their lives in the struggle for Goa’s freedom and many of them were confined in the Aguada jail.
The restoration of Fort Aguada was undertaken under the Swadesh Darshan scheme at a cost of around Rs 28 crore.
Sawant also informed that a short film on Goa’s freedom struggle will also be made and shown to the youth and others visiting the premises.
He appealed to teachers to bring high school students to the museum and show them the history of Goa.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte and Leader of Opposition and Calangute MLA, Micheal Lobo also spoke on the occasion.
