CURCHOREM: It once housed prisoners and freedom fighters during Goa's freedom struggle, but the historic Quepem police station building is destined to meet the same fate as that of many historical sites in the State.
The old police station in Quepem town has been earmarked for demolition to make way for a new police station to be built at a cost of Rs 5.25 crore, but historians have voiced concern over the proposed destruction of a piece of history.
Quepem Deputy Superintendent of Police Sammy Tavares said the project has been planned given the new requirement for sufficient space and facilities, which the old building could not provide.
The old police station was found to be inadequate by all standards.
The old building had sprung leaks at many places during the monsoons and the weakened structure had always posed a threat to the police force, visitors and those confined in lockups.
“The existing condition of the police station building was not good. The new project will be done in three phases and the existing structure will be completely demolished,” said DySP Tavares.
Providing more details about the project, Quepem MLA Chandrakant (Babu) Kavlekar said work on the Rs 5.25 crore Quepem police station would begin as soon as the tender process is completed.
“The new Quepem police station building will be a modern structure with the best of facilities for the police force. The new police station will be the second best in South Goa, after the Margao police station, in terms of infrastructure and facilities,” said Kavlekar.
“The new building will include the DySP's office and one floor will cater to the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB), library, canteen, conference hall and a computer room for surveillance.”
In addition, there will be separate lockups for male and females as well as a clothes drying room for the police.”
Commenting on the construction of the new police building, Kavlekar said the old jails in the rear end of the building would be demolished first.
“A new building will be built at that site and later, the front portion of the old building will be demolished,” he added.
Kavlekar justified the demolition of the old jails from the Portuguese era, as they are not in use anymore.
“The entire building will be new and there will be an open space and parking facilities for the police in front of the station,” said Kavlekar.
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Historian voices concern;
advocates 'adaptive reuse'
While defending the need to protect historic sites such as the old Quepem police station building, noted historian Prajal Sakhardande has insisted on the need for “adaptive reuse”, rather than demolition of old structures.
That the old Quepem police station is a heritage structure is evident from documentation way back in the 19th century.
Writing in 1878, José Nicolau da Fonseca stated that when the old convent of St Dominic at Old Goa was demolished in 1841, “the materials were mostly carried to Quepem and used in the construction of barracks.”
When contacted, noted historian Prajal Sakhardande confirmed that while the Quepem Police station is a historical site, it was not a notified heritage site.
“We had demanded long ago to have it notified as a heritage site, but it is still not notified. "That old jail at Quepem was used to keep prisoners and freedom fighters during the freedom struggle of Goa,” informed Sakhardande.
Adding further, Sakhardande said: “I am for “adaptive reuse” and not for demolition of such old structures. I feel it should be conserved and protected as a historical site.”
“I believe the old Quepem police station structure can be refurbished and renovated, just like Reis Magos fort and the old GMC structures,” he suggested.
