The Freedom Fighter Memorial Park in Cuncolim, once built to honour Goa’s brave freedom fighters, now lies in a state of neglect and disrepair. Once envisioned as a community space featuring a children’s playground, benches for senior citizens, and a distinctive red landmark pole, the park today stands as a stark reminder of administrative apathy.
Nameplates bearing the names of freedom fighters are broken or missing, benches lie damaged, and tiled flooring has collapsed in several areas. The children’s play equipment has rusted, posing safety hazards, while boundary lights have fallen and the premises are overrun with weeds and overgrown trees.
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Despite repeated promises to restore the park, no visible progress has been made. Cuncolim MLA Yuri Alemao, under whose constituency the park falls, has spoken multiple times about renovating the memorial, but the plans have yet to materialize.
Adding to the decay, the Cuncolim Municipal Council has failed to ensure regular cleaning and upkeep. The site is often littered with cow dung, and dirty gutter water flows through one side of the park, tarnishing the sanctity of a memorial built to commemorate Goa’s freedom fighters.
Local residents have once again urged authorities to take urgent steps to restore the park to its former dignity and preserve the legacy of those who fought for Goa’s liberation.
