the goan I network
VASCO
A group of residents from Quelossim along with Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha submitted a memorandum to Dy Chief Minister Chandrakant Kavlekar demanding the beautification and restoration of the ruins of the Shree Shantadurga temple at Quelossim.
When contacted, President of Shree Shantadurga Satyanarayan Sanskrutik Sanstha Tanuja Naik said they had been regularly following up with the Directorate of Archives and a plan for restoration and beautification along with necessary infrastructure was planned.
“According to the department, the plan was approved and necessary tendering process was done, but since the land belongs to Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan Kavlem, their approval or NOC is necessary to carry out the work and till date, the temple committee has not given any NOC,” said Naik.
“We have been constantly trying to have a meeting with members of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan Kavlem since the last one year to obtain the NOC, but the temple committee was, somehow, avoiding us and thus hampering in the beautification works of the ruins of Shantadurga temple at Quelossim.”
“We, therefore, requested Dy CM Chandrakant Kavlekar to use his office to convene a joint meeting with committee members of Shree Shantadurga Saunsthan Kavlem, Directorate of Archives, some members and villagers along with Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha to take the process further.
Naik said temple ruins are of historic importance, adding that the main deity of Shree Shantadurga Devi was shifted from Quelossim to Kavlem during Goa’s Inquisition in the 16th century.
“This place is marked as one of the important places in department of Archives”, said Naik, adding that many pilgrims and devotees visit the ruins to offer prayers and other rituals.
“If developed appropriately, the same place could be an important tourist destination of Goa as it is situated in the scenic village of Quelossim. We have therefore requested the Dy CM to take necessary steps in this matter,” said Naik.
