Speaking to the media, GHAG member and historian Prajal Sakhardande informed that the arsenal dates back to the Adil Shah’s period, which was later maintained by the Portuguese.
“The arsenal was used to produced arms and ammunitions,” he said, while expressing anguish that it has been completely destroyed by the PWD authorities who have re-built the same.
“The authorities are now saying that they will be putting the stones back and restore the wall,” said Sakhardande. “How it can be restored back when the stones have fallen down and reduced to rubble?”
Sakhardande further stated that near the Viceroy’s Arc, two platforms have come up which are totally new.
“ASI’s central law, i.e. the 2010 Amendment, states that 100 metres from an ASI monument is a no-development zone,” he informed and added that another 200 metres from the 100 metre zone lies the buffer zone or the regulatory zone.
“We have already complained to the Old Goa police station and also to the ASI’s superintendent archaeologist to take action in the matter,” Sakhardande said and added that they are not going to allow the demolition and desecration of historical structures in Old Goa.
“We are not against conservation, but fighting to maintain the originality, which is currently being destroyed,” he added.
“Around 50 monuments have been listed by the State Archaeology department but all are lying neglected,” he further informed while criticizing the ASI and the State Archaeology authorities for not doing their jobs.
Sakhardande further said that the state of affairs can be judged from the fact that the Cabo de Rama fort is lying in total neglect with vegetation cropping up everywhere.
“We request the Minister of Archives and Archaeology Dayanand Mandrekar to look into the issue,” he said.
“The GHAG has enlisted around 7000 heritage monuments which are still not yet notified,” Sakhardande said. “From Panjim itself, we enlisted 10 monuments but the authorities are not co-operating,” he added.
“The underground caves in Chicalim are yet to be notified. Chandor’s fort wall, the first fort of Goa, is yet to be notified and the people are using the stone from the wall for personal use,” Sakhardande said while enlisting some of the heritage monuments that are still to be notified as State heritage monuments.
Speaking on the occasion, Bismark Dias opined that if the government authorities themselves are involved in destruction of heritage structures, then it shows that they are least interested in protecting the rich heritage of Goa.
