PANJIM: The Directorate of Archives and Archaeological has started the process to identify Hindu temples and other religious structures which were destroyed in the State during the colonial Portuguese regime.
According to Assistant Superintending Archaeologist Varad Sabins, the State government has asked the Directorate to prepare a list of archaeological sites in the State. “After Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announced in the State Budget we received instructions from the CMO to prepare extensive list of such monuments, which were destroyed during Portuguese regime and have extensive database for restoration of such monuments.”
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Sabnis said the department has started a survey of all those monuments which suffered during the Portuguese rule, The department has extensive list of archaeological sites and monuments and antique objects and we need to have such database on the lines of the National Mission of Monuments and Antiquities. Based on this database further instructions will be sought from higher authorities, he said.
There are 51 monuments and sites which are of archaeological importance and notified by the Directorate of Archives and Archaeology and 21 monuments and sites which have National importance and notified by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). Besides this, there are also thousands of heritage structures scattered in urban and rural villages of Goa, he said.
Sabnis said so far the Directorate did not have extensive list and documentation of such sites. But with the initiative taken by the higher authorities the department intends to have extensive database and restoration of old monuments will be based this database.
The Directorate will also write to the Government of India for funding and support from the National Mission of Monuments and Antiquities and based on their support future plan of action will be initiated.
The Chief Minister has made a budgetary provision of Rs 20 crore in the budget for restoration of old temples and monuments in the State.
