THE GOAN NETWORK
CANACONA:
Disagreeing with Canacona Municipal Council's (CMC) planto reconstruct and extend its administrative building, the NGO Goenkar has,instead, recommended the renovation and preservation of the existingPortuguese-era building as a heritage structure.
Addressing a news conference at Chaudi on Monday, GoenkarPresident Jack Fernandes opposed the demolition of the existing municipalbuilding to construct a new one, after claiming that stating the CMC buildingis a Portuguese-era public building and one of the two such heritage buildings,including a school complex, in the taluka.
“They are needed to be preserved as heritage sites in thetaluka. We are not against development and we welcome all development worksannounced by CMC Chairperson Nitu Desai.
“However, we are opposed to the demolition andreconstruction of the existing municipal building and construction of a newfish-market by ignoring repairs of the 15-year-old fish market,” saidFernandes.
“If authorities repair and renovate the existingmunicipal building, which may be over 80-100 years with heritage value, it caneasily last for another 50 years and there is no need to construct a newbuilding at a cost of Rs 11 crore. Besides, instead of constructing a newfish-market at a cost of Rs 3.5 crore, the existing 15-year-old fish market canbe renovated. This way, the CMC can easily save around Rs 10 crore and utilisethe amount for other development projects such as getting a much-needed STPplant in Canacona,” Fernandes said.
Goenkar recalled that the CMC had laid a foundation stonein 2013 for a new municipal council administrative building, but had to shelveplans to demolish the existing structure following concerns fromenvironmentalists and heritage lovers.
Historian Prajal Sakhardande had raised the issue ofCanacona's heritage structures, the 'Dovorni' and the two Portuguese-erabuildings, the CMC building at Chaudi and the school building of CentroPromoter De Instrucao at Char-Rasta.
Goenkar General Secretary Vikas Bhagat claimed that theCMC had embarked on projects involving huge and unwanted public expenditureswithout any planning or vision.
“People are against these unplanned developments. We alsodo not have any personal interest in raising this issue but our interest is topreserve our rich heritage for posterity and curb wastage of public funds,”said Bhagat.
Fernandes said they would meet Dy Speaker and CanaconaMLA Isidore Fernandes to restore the CMC building and would also contact thearchives and archaeological department.
“In addition, we will also submit a memorandum to UrbanDevelopment Minister Milind Naik during his Canacona visit on Tuesday. Ifauthorities fail to address our grievances, Goenkar will not hesitate to seeklegal opinion and approach the court to preserve Canacona's heritagestructures.
