PANAJI
The Directorate of Archaeology has moved a fresh proposal for undertaking structural audit of all 51 protected monuments in the State.
At the same time, eight new structures of historical importance including Hath Katro Khamb at Old Goa, also known as Inquisition Pillar are set to be declared as “protected monuments”. The State government has approved these structures and a notification is expected shortly.
Sources have revealed that a structural audit will be conducted for all protected monuments to prepare restoration plans and assess their vulnerability to fire hazards.
It was further revealed that the proposal to undertake structural audit of the protected monuments was long overdue and due to various reasons the same could not be executed.
“The department will sign a Memorandum of Understanding either with the Civil Engineering Department of Goa Engineering College (GEC) or rope in some reputed agency for the purpose. The government has already granted in-principle approval for the same,” sources said.
It was in 2019, when the proposal for structural audit was mooted for the first time. The similar moves were afoot in 2023.
There are 51 notified monuments and sites maintained by the department, which includes forts, caves, rock engravings and water tanks. There are another 21 under the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI).
The Department of Archaeology will undertake restoration and structural consolidation work of the Jain Basti at Bandora, Ponda, valued at Rs 1.17 crore, as part of Phase II.
Additionally, the department will carry out restoration of Alorna Fort, estimated at Rs 69.40 lakh, and conservation of the site at the Frontispiece of Sancoale, valued at Rs 27.44 lakh, for the 2024-2025 period. Tenders for all three projects have been issued.
Meanwhile, Hath Katro Khamb at Old Goa, Betul Fort, Nanus Fort, Rock Engravings at Mauxi, Stone circle at Cotigao, Kranti Veer Dipaji Rane’s House at Kumbharkhand, Sattari, Soliye temple at Canocana and Tank of Shri. Vazreshwar Temple at Balli are new structures identified for protection under ‘State List’.
