Khola locals red over govt plan to handover Cabo-de-Rama fort

CANACONA, JUNE 17
As government is observing the Revolution Day on Friday to commemorate peoples uprising against foreign rulers in our State, the government faces a larger threat of revolution from its own people over its reported plan to hand over Cabo-de-Rama fort to a central agency.
Parishioners of Cabo-de-Rama church and residents of Khola have threatened a sustained struggle with the government, if the government without their participation goes ahead with the handover of Cabo-de-Rama fort, which also houses a church, which the parishioners regularly visit.
Reacting to reports that recently appeared in a section of press that the State government is perusing a proposal from Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) to handover two Cabo-de-Rama and Chapora forts for adaptive reuse, parishioners and other residents have strongly denounced government’s move of keeping them in dark.
“We don’t know about Chapora fort, but it’s not the same case with Cabo-de-Rama fort, which unlike other historical forts in the State or elsewhere, this fort has a church, which caters to several parishioners residing in the area,” Khola Bachao Abhiyan (KBA) President Precopio Fernandes told Herald.
Cabo-de-Rama church Fabrica Treasurer Peter Anthony Fernandes said: “This will be an unwanted interference in our religious place, which we will not allow at any cost. Let the government address our issue first before it goes on to handover the fort to a central agency.”
Another Fabrica committee member, Rocozinho Fernandes, said: “We are not opposed to restoration and development of the fort without disturbing or effecting any changes in the archaeological, historical and heritage value, as stated in the press reports.”
“The press note also quoted a development commissioner and secretary (Archives) Narendra Kumar, but what we won’t permit is the restriction on parishioners from entering the fort precincts, which houses one of the historical church and the so-called ‘light and sound programmes’, which could disturb peace and tranquillity of the area,” said Fernandes.
The report says “government may initially organize ‘light and sound’ programmes, as is done in places like Red Fort, or host cultural programmes,” besides saying “that the government wants to put in place a proper law before going ahead with the project.”
Government’s intended plan to even go for amendments in Goa, Daman and Diu Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978 to facilitate the government to undertake restoration, renovation, re-erection and reconstruction of ancient monuments and to put them in adaptive re-use, which locals fear that the amendment may be primarily used to counter people’ opposition at Cabo-de-Rama parishioners.
Basilia D’Costa said: “We have been demanding for many years with the government to undertake re-erection of several destroyed portions and renovation of this fort.”
“The government at times taking up only minimal renovations, have actually failed to bring back the lost glory of the fort, but not now coming out with new legislations just to help a central agency to displace locals interests and disturb our religious sanctity is unfortunate,” added D’Costa.
It is learnt that locals uses the vast grassland inside the fort for cattle grazing, besides anglers takes on the bordering stones to fish, while some of the miniature shores bordering the fort’s shoreline are used for other fishing activities.
KBA President Fernandes said: “We have our church inside the fort, so before going for any new legislations or handing over Cabo-de-Rama fort to INTACH or any other agency, government should take locals, especially Cabo-de-Rama church parishioners into confidence.”
When contacted, one of the Canaguinim church parish priests, who simultaneously holds the charge of St Anthony Church, Cabo-de-Rama and is presently out of station, but unaware of government’s move sought some time to react and promised to get back after contacting the parishioners.