Minister for Archaeology Shubash Phaldessai, Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and other officials while inspecting the Mormugao fort at Headland Sada.
VASCO
Stating that the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) had encroached on the heritage Mormugao fort area at Headland Sada and had denied access denied to locals, Minister of Archaeology Subhash Phaldessai said the government would ask the MPA to hand over the fort to the archaeology department for restoration.
Phaldessai was speaking to media persons after he along with Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar and MPA officials on Monday carried out joint inspection of historical Mormugao Fort and Viceregal Palace heritage sites at Sada.
Phaldessai said both the historical structures would be restored and access would be made available to locals.
"The MPA has encroached on the heritage fort area and access is denied to locals. The fort which is the property of Archaeology department will be restored, preserved and beautified. I will speak to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to find a balance way to get access to fort without breaching the security of MPA,” said Phaldessai.
The minister said he would go through the documents and ascertain when the MPA encroached this sites and took over part of these areas.
“This is a treasure that has to be protected, conserved and preserved and this has not been done because this area is under MPA, which has constructed a huge gate in this area. The archaeology department must not ignore this property which is in a very bad state. The MPA should not claim that this is their property while the archaeology department gets restoration done and access will be given to these heritage sites.”
“I have directed my director of archaeology to find out what all areas are heritage sites connected to these areas and take up a research on this site. We will have a joint meeting with MPA and take in consideration of their side as well and we will come out with a balance approach so that people get clear access without breaching the security of MPA,” said the minister.
Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar told media persons that it was a long-pending demand of locals to restore the Mormugao fort and open the access to public.
"I had placed the question of restoring both the sites in the assembly. This fort is unique and beautiful while overlooking the Arabian Sea. I thank the minister for giving us an assurance on the restoration of fort with other facilities made available in the land around the fort belonging to Archaeology department,” said Amonkar.
