PANAJI
The State government's plan to develop Chandor as a 'Heritage Village' through the department of Archives and Archeology is moving at a snail's pace and has not progressed beyond the appointment of a consultant to prepare the detailed project report of the proposal.
The plan was announced over a year ago in the 2023-24 State budget presented by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in February last year.
According to Minister for Archives and Archaeology, Subhash Phaldesai, the government has thus far approved the 'scope of work' prepared by the department for appointment of the consultant.and the process to appoint one has only now been initiated.
The timeline for executing the project will only be decided after the consultant so appointed prepares the DPR, he added in a written statement in reply to a query raised by Opposition Leader Yuri Alemao in the recently concluded Budget Session of the Goa legislative assembly.
Also known in ancient times as Chandrapur, Chandor is the first known capital city of ancient Goa in the period between the fourth and the 10 century during the reign of the Bhoja and the Kadamba dynasties.
In the year 2000, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had also conducted a series of excavations in Chandor where several antiques were unearthed including the invaluable inscription in Brahmi Script, sculpture of Bhairava and several structural remains.
The proposal to develop Chandor as a 'heritage village' involves beautification of aesthetically presentable heritage, signages and information boards to be put up, preparing heritage circuits for heritage walks, cycle tracks, treasure hunt tracks and streetscapes, conservation of heritage homes, besides setting up of art galleries, interpretation centres and museums on heritage (tangible, intangible and liberation struggle).
The plan also includes setting up a 'Memorial Gallery' of prominent personalities.
