MARGAO
An initiative by the Goa Forward Party to whitewash the outer wall of the old Hospicio building brought party workers and the Goa police face to face on Friday morning before Hospicio Medical Superintendent Dr Rajendra Borkar permitted the regional party to paint the walls.
Party workers descended near the heritage Hospicio building on Friday morning to whitewash the front wall, only to find a huge police force mobilized to foil the initiative. The police contended that the party cannot whitewash the Hospicio wall without NOC from the Hospicio authorities since it is a government-owned building.
As the police presence gave some anxious moments, with the huge force taking visitors to the city by surprise, the Goa Forward leaders approached the Health authorities, before the Hospicio Medidal Superintendent Dr Borkar gave his nod for the party to take up the initiative.
After Vijai Sardesai, party leaders and workers painted the wall, the Goa Forward chief told the media that the party took up the initiative to paint the walls of the iconic Hospicio hospital white, along with party colleagues and citizens of Margao and Fatorda to reiterate the commitment to protect every brick and stone of the State’s rich cultural heritage condemned to decay by the Goa government.
“It’s also a gesture of protest against the alien practice of defacing our walls with political messages which the ruling party has taken up in earnest,” he added.
Questioning the huge police force, Sardesai wondered whether the police presence has sent a message that citizens now need to obtain prior permission to carry out beach cleaning or plastic cleanliness drive from the departments of Tourism and PWD.
Meanwhile, the entrance road to Margao city outside the old Hospicio building resembled a fortress, literally as the Goa police mobilized a huge police force to foil attempts by the Goa Forward Party to whitewash the outer wall of the hospital building.
Led by Sub-divisional Police Officer, Margao DySP Santosh Desai, the men-in-khaki took position along the building wall, to thwart attempts by the Goa Forward workers to whitewash the wall.
Police station in-charges of Fatorda, PI Ditendra Naik, Margao PI Tulisdas Naik, Colva PI Theron D’Costa, Cuncolim PI Tukaram Chawan and Maina Curtorim PI Ravi Desai were deployed at the spot for law and order duties.
Finance department blamed for poor health services in State
MARGAO:
Supporting the request made by Caritas, Goa to hand over a portion of the old Hospicio building to set up a health care centre, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai has on Friday blamed the Finance Department behind the poor health services in the State.
He said many a proposal mooted by the Health Department has not fructified simply because the Finance Department has failed to clear the proposals.
He said there’s no harm in handing over the heritage building to the NGO instead of allowing the building to decay.
Saying the old Hospicio building is a heritage structure, Sardesai said the government should take the people of Fatorda into confidence, including the family members of Hospicio founder, Padre Miranda on how to go about utilizing the vacant building.
“The government should at least examine the proposal moved by Caritas and give a decision. I am not saying to give it only to them, but the government should unveil its plan of action,” he said.
