Built over a
period of nearly 20 years by Shah Jahan in memory of his wife after her death in 1631, Taj Mahal was
recently refurbished to welcome the American leader US President Donald Trump
and US First Lady Melania Trump. Authorities at the Archaeological Survey of
India gave a mud-pack treatment for the graves of Mughal emperor Shah Jahan and
wife Mumtaz Mahal. Goa too boosts of wonderful churches, temples and monuments
which have stood the test of time. However, the monuments here have been taken
care of.
Prajal Sakhardande is
the professor in the History department at Dhempe College, Miramar for the last
25 years. “The Goa State Archaeology Department and the Archaeological Survey
of India (ASI) are no doubt taking care of the historical monuments and heritage
sites. The Goa State Archaeology Dept is doing its best to upkeep and maintain
its monuments and sites etc but some visitors litter these sites and monuments
with garbage.
On the Cabo de Rama
fort and Khorjuvem fort, people have defaced it by writing their names on these
forts. Recently, I observed that bins have been provided at Pansaimoll rock art
site but people do not observe any civic discipline and the garbage bins were
overflowing and strewn all round were plastic bottles, wrappers, plastic cans
etc.
Similarly, Zuvem fort
is littered with garbage. Many times we have taken our NSS students and cleaned
up the fort. The attendants have to be placed on duty on Sundays too as maximum
people visit these sites on Sundays and litter the places. The same story is
with Old Goa.”
Ramchandra Prabhu
Salgaonkar has done trails in different places. He admires the churches and
monuments in Old Goa on his regular trail to the old Capital of Goa. “The
upkeep of the monument needs improvement in Goa. There are two broad issues,
first the degradation of the monument due to wear and tear and secondly the
damages cause due to the tourists. Both these factors significantly contribute
to the wear and tear on the monument, in addition to the littering of garbage in
the vicinity. In a country like India, the upkeep of monuments is not on the
priority list, hence the monument are in a neglected state. In Goa too,
historic monuments need restoration,” says Salgaonkar
Jack Sukhija, a
member of Goa Heritage Action Group optimistically says, “National Monuments in
Goa are taken care of well by ASI but it is very sad that in India, monuments
are looked carefully at only when high profile dignitaries are visiting than
having regular maintenance checks. The Directorate of Archives and Archaeology
in Goa has improved and forts in Goa have some been maintained over the years.
I am positive about the approach the different bodies are taking towards
maintaining heritage in Goa throughout the year.”
Maria Victor, Founder
of Make It Happen, takes tourists and Goans to different heritage sites in Goa.
Their latest tours include Nerul tour, Saligao Tour and the Feni and Tapas
Trail in Panjim. “The ASI has maintained the monuments in Old Goa and the
Directorate of Archives and Archaeology is also listing various heritage sites
that need maintenance. Cabo De Rama should also be looked at. If we want to
promote Goa beyond the beaches then we have to take them to these heritage
places. Places like the British Cemetery and St Estevam Fort have overgrown
bushes and grass over the place. There is no budget allocated to these heritage
places and no action is taken. This can serve a lot to tourism. Some places can
even be given to the corporates for their CSR project,” explains Victor
Rajendra
Kerkar, has been working closely with the Directorate of Archives and
Archaeology for over two decades guiding them on maintaining the old structures
without damaging them while renovating, “Presently, the Directorate of Archives
and Archaeology is restoring the old temple of Shree Saptakoteshwar in Narve.
They are also restoring the first heritage village of Goa in Cudnem, Bicholim
which has its own temple and memorials which date back to the Kadamba – Shilara
period. They wanted to renovate the Fort of Betul in Quepem which dates to the
Shivaji’s period. The monuments in Goa are well protected and seasonal grasses
are removed on time,” explains Kerker
