Good news for Chicalim caves

VASCO: Finally, the neglected caves at Chicalim, which are believed to be pre-Portuguese era structures and have immense archaeological importance, have grabbed attention of Conservation Committee of Government of Goa and probably very soon the neglected caves would be declared as protected.  

Recently, a team of Conservation Committee of Goa Government led by Assistant Superintendent Archaeologist with Archives and Archaeology Government of Goa Varad Sabnis, Principal of Goa College of Architecture Dr Ashish Rege, Chief Architect PWD Arvind Gomes, Assistant Director of Tourism Department Subhas Kavlekar, officials of Land Survey Department and members of Chicalim Village Panchayat inspected the site. The team would take up a study on these neglected caves and would then submit their report before Conservation committee of Government of Goa.

“We have to study these very interesting holes in the ground which is also known as Chicalim caves. Presently, we are not aware whether the caves were used as burial ground or the same was used for some other purpose, thus our team would do lot of research and would try to find out other unknown aspects of the caves and we will then submit our report before Conservation committee of Government of Goa”, said Dr Ashish Rege.

Assistant Superintendent Archaeologist, Varad Sabnis informed that “We have been asked by the Conservation committee of Government of Goa to study different proposals received by the Archives and Archaeology department. Today, the sub committee appointed by the Conservation committee has inspected the site. We have noticed that there are few underground chambers. Similarly, there were proposals from Chicalim Village Panchayat thus we would submit our report so that future course of action with regards to Chicalim caves would be decided by the government”.

Chicalim panch Neelima Naik stressed that the beautiful Chicalim caves have been neglected due to reasons best known to the concerned department officials. She said that people of Dabolim have been demanding to preserve the caves, which can be developed as one of the important archaeological sites in Goa.