The move to shift the Bicholim police station and demolish the heritage structure where it is currently housed has opened a Pandora’s Box, with historians raising strong objections to the proposed project that will come up in its stead.
“We are likely to shift the police station to the old PHC, which is being renovated and will be completed soon. If everything works out well, then we will inaugurate the building by the second week of June,” said local MLA Naresh Sawal.
The Bicholim police station is located at a central place in the town, which covers about 4,000 sq mts of land.
“The condition of the police station is very poor. When Manohar Parrikar was Chief Minister, he had given us permission to renovate the PHC and shift the police station there,” said Sawal, adding, “We had submitted a proposal to construct a government complex in its place, and GSIDC is ready with a plan. What is required is to make a provision in the budget and demolish the existing weak structure.”
As per historians, the police station is housed in a heritage site and there is strong objection to its demolition.
“The structure of the Bicholim police station is actually part of a fort and has historical importance. We do not know who had built the fort, but in the 17th century, it was captured by Maratha king Shivaji Maharaj and later by Sambhaji. This was also with the Portuguese,” said Prajal Sakhardande, historian and Chairperson of Goa Heritage Action Group.
He has strongly raised objection to its demolition and has submitted a letter of protest against the demolition to the North Goa Collector, Heritage Conservation Committee, TCP and the State Archaeology Department.
“There is no respect for rich, cultural heritage. We just think about development and constructing new buildings. We do not have any objection if the police station is shifted, but the old heritage building should not be demolished,” Sakhardande said.
He added, “There is a small temple of Koteshwar in the vicinity of the police station. ‘Kote’ means ‘fort’ and this in itself tells the heroic tale of the place. We request the MLA to save and preserve this rich heritage of Bicholim and express our strong objection to the new complex.”
Besides historians, some citizens are also defending the heritage structure.
“It has been a police station since the Portuguese rule. Some walls of this building are very thick and made of mud and bricks, while others are of stones laden with cement plaster,” said a resident.
