PANJIM: Dedicated to Goa’s first chief minister, the historical Dayanand Bandodkar Memorial at Miramar, which is one of the state’s major attractions, has now, over the years, turned into an eyesore with garbage being dumped at the historic site.
Dayanand Bandodkar popularly known as Bhau was the first Chief Minister of liberated Goa Daman and Diu. He passed away on August 12, 1973 after ruling Goa Daman and Diu for a decade as Chief Minister and was cremated on August 13, 1973 on the Miramar beach where the memorial stands.
When Herald visited the memorial, glass bottles of wine, whiskey and beer besides the plastic bottles and plastic carry bags were found all over the beach and even at the memorial site, giving a bad impression to those visiting the famous Miramar beach.
Further, it was noticed that the historical Bandokar memorial was in urgent need of maintenance in terms of lighting and overall cleanliness.
When Herald spoke to residents of Caranzalem, Taleigao and Dona Paula, this is what they had to say:
“It’s been quite a long time that the memorial is lying in a sorry state with no proper maintenance and the closure of the memorial for public, has forced locals as well as tourists to avoid this historical site.”
“This memorial is such a historical place and is of utmost importance but the authorities have always neglected this site. Now tourists have turned the interior premises of the memorial into a garbage dumping ground by throwing plastic packets and glass bottles. Is such kind of disrespect the state’s first CM of liberated Goa deserves?” questioned Saket Salgaonkar, a Caranzalem resident.
The locals have also witnessed the tourists who visit the beach at night indulge themselves into drinking and later just flick beer bottles into the memorial premises showing total disregard to the historic site as the memorial is almost in darkness.
“I have seen both locals as well as tourists just throwing left over bottles over the barricade of the memorial” said Anirudha Vinayak Bhaje, a Taleigao resident.
However, other locals, who spoke to Herald, said that the memorial should be opened for public and tourists with an entry fee, which will showcase the history of first chief minister of liberated Goa.
Historian Prajal Sakhardande speaking to Herald said, “The Bandodkar memorial is a historical monument, which needs to be maintained and shown to the tourists with a ticketed entry as is done for other memorials. Cleanliness should be maintained. I bring my History students to this historic site annually during my Miramar Heritage walk. The memorial is a beautiful underground chamber with a black marble tabletop structure and the entire memorial in the stupa style is made of white marble”
When contacted for his comment on the sorry state of affairs at the memorial, CCP Mayor Surendra Furtado informed that CCP has nothing to do with the memorial maintenance and that the responsibility to maintain the same lies with the PWD as they are in possession the keys.
