MARGAO
Asserting that the beautification of the Old Market heritage area hinges on the restoration of the crumbling Camara de Salcete structure, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai on Sunday said efforts are underway to persuade the land owners to part with the dilapidated structure saying the government is willing to acquire it.
The TCP Minister further said that if the centuries-old Camara building is restored to its pristine glory, the proposed Fatorda Municipal Council can even function from the heritage structure upon its restoration.
“We can take up the beautification of the old market heritage area, but the eyesore will remain without the restoration of the heritage Camara building. The question is the ownership of the structure. Someone, the owner believes that we are trying to take over the structure for some other purpose. Our efforts will continue as the issue will also come before the Conservation Committee to declare the Camara structure as a heritage site,” Sardesai said when the issue came up before the Sunday Dialogue programme at the Old Market on Sunday.
Conceding that the Camara building is crumbling with each passing day, the TCP Minister said the MMC had already taken a resolution earmarking funds for the acquisition of the structure. “Since land acquisition now is a tedious process, we are trying to persuade the owner to part with the building so that the process of restoration can begin forthwith,” he said.
“We have the funds to buy the structure, but the owner is not willing to part with the building. The owners appear to be misguided that we are trying to develop the area for ourselves,” Sardesai said, adding that the Conservation Committee will soon decide on according heritage status to the structure.
