MARGAO
Poor maintenance of statues and monuments has come back to haunt the authorities and powers that be, while the State is embroiled in a bitter debate over the question of installing statues of eminent personalities within the precincts of the Goa Legislative Assembly complex.
After dogs were caught littering and dirtying the newly-inaugurated Opinion Poll Square playing host to the portraits of 38 Opinion Poll stalwarts, the strays have literally made the Dr Ram Manohar Lohia memorial at the Lohia Maidan their second home.
It was 9.30 on Wednesday night. Barring a lone ornamental lamp illuminating Lohia’s statue and the memorial, it was pitch dark all around the maidan. A number of stray dogs could be seen on the prowl inside, including the spacious stage. At least four stray dogs, however, could be spotted sitting down right on Lohia’s monument, making the memorial their second home.
The presence of strays at the historical monuments and places has thrown up a host of questions, including questions whether there’s any agency to look after the upkeep and maintenance of the historical places and the stray dogs menace staring at the commercial capital.
The Lohia Maidan, located right in the heart of the commercial capital, has been in the news in recent time over the anti-social activities during late evenings, prompting the Margao Municipal Council to consider deploying a security personnel to guard the historic place. Chairperson Babita Prabhudesai pointed out that the security issue concerning Lohia Maidan will be deliberated at the next Council meeting.
However, like the Opinion Poll Square, which is being guarded round-the-clock by the men-in-uniform, the Lohia Maidan too has been invaded by stray dogs. While the police seem to have been successful in protecting the portraits of the Opinion Poll legends by keeping the miscreants at bay, they seem to have no clue to address the burning issue of dog menace facing the city.
Incidentally, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai had mooted a complete turnaround of the historic Lohia Maidan, which has been craving for attention over the years. In fact, Sardesai had in December last mulled roping in a consultant to work out a design and plan befitting the historic place.
The Lohia Maidan is named after Dr Ram Manohar Lohia after the great nationalist had descended at Margao upon an invitation from his friend and freedom fighter from Assolna Dr Juliao Menezes to give a clarion call to the people to Goa to liberate themselves from the Portuguese regime.
