Citizens of Cuncolim are upset with the manner in which the Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial has been neglected.
Residents are questioning why the memorial project that was kicked off 5 years ago under the Gold Jubilee grant has not been completed. What has annoyed them further is that the area in front of the park has turned into a dumping ground for the council and a parking ground for garbage vehicles, night soil tankers and other vehicles.
It may be recalled the Cuncolim Chieftains project was considered prestigious as it was built in the honour of the first war of Independence fought in the year 1583 at Tallebhat Cuncolim. The memorial is tribute to the village chieftains who lost their lives in the freedom struggle against the Portuguese and became the first martyrs.
Locals have blamed the municipality for dishonouring their memory due to the present state of affairs. In spite of constant remainders the Cuncolim Municipal Council authorities are not ready to remove the vehicles parked in front of the reputed Memorial. Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial Trust made many representations to both local body and Urban Development Department but nothing has been changed. Local residents lamented that the local municipal body, Government officers and local representatives are not keen and serious to preserve and keep pride of their ancestors. This Memorial was constructed under the Goa Liberation Golden Jubilee Scheme. Art and Culture had provided fund of Rs 2 crore to the Municipal Council who used Rs 50 lakh for the construction of this project which is still incomplete and waiting for inauguration.
It took five years to complete construction and now only the electric work is pending. It’s surprising that the Council has failed to complete this prestigious project despite having the grants.”How one can tolerate this type of insult to the great revolt, this shows our local representatives and government do not know to respect our ancestors who laid down their lives for Swarajya and Swadharma,” said Oscar Martins President of Cuncolim Chieftains Trust.Two years passed since the contractor handed over project to the Council which has even planned to inaugurate the project two years back.
For the last two years locals are shouting at the top of their voice to inaugurate memorial but all has fallen on deaf ears.Sources from the Council said that the file of electric work permission is pending at the Art and Culture department. The Council required permission to use the Golden Jubilee Fund since the mandated time period has lapsed and the council had asked permission to extend time period to use Golden Jubilee Fund. Council officials claim the Director of Municipal Administration (DMA) had send that file to Art and Culture Department who they claim have been sitting on the file for the last four months. Council officials added that they also asked the PWD to provide the estimates for the electric work.
The Council officials said they have no alternative place to park their vehicles.
“It’s a shame for the Council that they cannot complete this historical project which is the pride of Cuncolkars and our government cannot respect them. This delay brings a bad name to both the Council and the government and I urge them to take this project on war footing and to shift all vehicles from the gate of the Memorial,” said Kamlaksh Prabhugaonkar.
Cuncolim Chieftains Memorial now decided to hand over the memorandum to all authorities asking them to complete the chieftain memorial project within one month or else they will be forced to inaugurate it themselves.
