Balancing development with heritage has always been a challenge in Bicholim taluka and now, moves to convert a heritage complex into a government building has sparked off protests from heritage lovers and locals.
Given the large number of historical sites in Bicholim taluka, residents have had strong sentiments towards the preservation of these structures.
What has angered many locals, including historians and heritage lovers, is the desire of local MLA, Naresh Sawal, to build a government building complex and an auditorium in place of the existing police station.
Sawal has, time and again, demanded that the State government building be constructed at the existing police station.
More recently, he reiterated his demand through a letter dated November 18, 2014, after Laxmikant Parsekar was appointed as chief minister. Among the 11 demands submitted, the construction of a government building was placed on priority. The Bicholim police station is presently located at a central place in the town covering about 4,000 sq mts of land.
“It has been a police station since the time of Portuguese rule. Some walls of this building are very thick and are made of mud and bricks, while others are of stones laden with cement plaster,” said a police official.
“The police station is likely to be shifted to the old Primary Health Centre building and this shift is pending just because the work of a prison is yet to be completed. Later, they will destroy the entire structure to construct a new building,” the police official added.
“The police also have religious sentiments attached to this place as we believe that temple of god Koteshwar lies in the vicinity of the building. When we go on any important or sensitive mission, we seek the blessings of this God and feel that he protects this entire area. If attempt is made to destroy this place, he would unleash his fury,” feared the police official.
While the police attribute religious sentiments to the site, historians see the destruction of a police station as a threat to a historical site.
“The structure of Bicholim police station is actually a part of a fort and has historical importance,” said historian and the Chairperson of Goa Heritage Action Group, Prajal Sakhardande. “If there is any move to destroy this heritage site, we will oppose it tooth and nail.”
“After we came to know about the move of the government, we decided to chalk out a plan. We will write to the collector and also other government officials expressing our concern. I have also taken an appointment with the Minister of Archaeology, Francisco Mickky Pacheco, on January 13 in this regard. We will discuss the issue after submitting a memorandum to protect the site,” said Sakhardande.
Sawal is out of the country and did not respond to a message asking him for comments in the matter.
When contacted, Bicholim BJP Block President Manohar Shirodkar stressed on the need for development in the taluka.
“For over a decade, personal rivalry and dirty politics has hampered the development of Bicholim. The government is keen on the project and we feel that police personnel should get good facilities and a hygienic environment,” said Shirodkar.
He was, however, quick to change his position when informed that some historians have objected to the move to demolish the structure. “If it (Bicholim Police Station) is a historical site, it should be preserved,” said Shirodkar.
