Govt mulls notifying Dr Gomes’ ancestral house as archaeological monument

Minister for Archives and Archaeology Subhash Phal Dessai along with ex-CM Luizinho Faleiro, senior officials and citizens paying tributes to Dr Francisco Luis Gomes at his memorial at Navelim on Saturday.

Photo Credits: Santosh Mirajkar

MARGAO
Minister for Archives & Archaeology Subhash Phal Dessai has on Saturday said that the ancestral house of the great Goan nationalist, Dr Francisco Luis Gomes can be notified as an archaeology monument if there are no legal disputes over the house and land.

He further said that the government will explore the possibility of restoring Dr Gomes’ ancestral house, presently lying in ruins, even if there are land disputes with the help of the local MLAs and others.

Speaking on the birth anniversary of Dr Francisco Luis Gomes at the official programme at Navelim, Phal Dessai said, “He would try and work out a solution to the ancestral house. Funds for the restoration work will not be an issue. What is possible legally will be done. The restoration work will not lag behind just for want of funds.”

Saying he would discuss with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on the restoration of the ancestral house and explore whether the house can be notified as an archaeology monument. “I will send my team of officials from the Department of Archives and Archaeology within 15 days to find out whether the ancestral house can be restored and notified as a museum for posterity,” he added.

The Minister also instructed the South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus to find out why MPLAD funds of former Rajya Sabha MP Luizinho Faleiro could not be spent on the Dr Francisco Luis Gomes memorial at Navelim. The Minister issued the instructions to the district Collector, who is also the nodal officer for MPLAD works after Faleiro drew his attention that funds amounting to Rs 25 lakh sanctioned for the memorial under his MPLAD scheme has not been utilised till date.

Phal Dessai also issued instructions to the authorities to ensure that the drains around Dr Gomes Memorial are desilted for quick drainage of rain water. For, when the guests and officials, besides citizens arrived to pay tributes to Dr Gomes, the place around the memorial was inundated with water, forcing the organisers to shift the function to the adjoining school hall.

Paying rich tributes to Dr Gomes, Phal Dessai said Dr Gomes had espoused the cause of Goa and India in Lisbon Parliament even decades before the birth of the Indian National Congress. “He had fought for Goa’s liberation and independence for India. His voice in support for freedom for India and Goa had echoed in Portuguese Parliaments. During his stint, he had fought courageously for the rights of the people of Goa and India,” he added.

Complimenting former Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro for preserving the rich legacy of Dr Francisco Luis Gomes, the Minister reminded that Dr Gomes had fought for the transfer of power from the classes to the masses so that true power lies in the hands of the masses.

In his address, Faleiro said today is an important day with the day commemorated as Eminent Goans Day across the world. He said the work to preserve the legacy of Dr Gomes had started exactly 40 years ago with the setting up of a children’s park and a library in memory of the nationalist.

He acknowledged that Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has extended his full support for the Dr Francisco Luis Gomes Memorial at Navelim.

South Goa district Collector, Egna Cleetus, District police chief Tikam Singh, Navelim Sarpanch Michael Cardozo, ZP member Cipru Cardozo, besides freedom fighter Rohidas Desai, citizens participated in the programme.