PANAJI
"Clearing of vegetation and carrying out minor repairs will be taken up immediately after the monsoon season in October. Thereafter, the restoration of the fort will be undertaken with the help of empaneled conservation architects," stated a written reply.
When the question came up for discussion, Aldona MLA Glen Ticlo requested Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar to take up the work of restoration of the fort immediately as a special case.
Responding to Ticlo, Parrikar informed, "The forts are notified under the Act so they have to be restored in the same old style. In many cases cement cannot be used. I assure that the work on the restoration will not be halted due to lack of funds."
"We will have to progress as per an architect's advice. So we can't hurry as this is something which has to be done in a particular way," he said.
Making his point, Curchorem MLA Nilesh Cabral said that developmental projects within 200 mts of areas of forts are not permissible.
"All over the world forts are connected by ropeways," he said hinting at the proposed ropeway project connecting Reis Magos Fort to Panaji.
"I do not think it is not permissible. It is permissible with permissions from appropriate authorities. This is my reading about it," said the Chief Minister adding, "When the old Goa bypass was being developed we faced similar problems but we took all permissions."
"You (Cabral) tell your department to apply to the department concerned. We will permit it within the ambit of law," assured Parrikar.
