Pernem’s many heritage structures built during the Portuguese colonial period are now under unused, abandoned and crumbling. The reason is because over the past few years, the government has given up looking after the structures.
Pernem taluka has the River Tiracol on one side and the River Chapora on the other. River Tiracol forms the border between Goa and Maharashtra and across this the Portuguese and British conducted their trade in import and export of gold and other products.
Products like tea, sugar, oil were cheaply available in Maharashtra which would be imported to Goa and to control this, the Portuguese had their offices in Pernem town and as well as on the banks of River Tiracol at Querim, Kiranpani, Palyem, Murdi, Devsu, Naibag and Torsem.
The offices at these posts were called “Guarda Fiscal” meaning custom officers, besides which there were other structures of the police stations. The locals, finding it difficult to pronounce the Portuguese words simply called them posts.
The northernmost part of Goa, Tiracol, is geographically located in Maharashtra, but was and is a part of Goa. To stay connected with the village, the Portuguese had a launch service from Tiracol to Naibag. The launch ferried Goans and Maharashtrians. After India got Independence and began demanding freedom for Goa, the Portuguese fearing an attack maintained their rifles, guns, bombs in these buildings which were their offices. After Liberation, these Portuguese posts were slowly abandoned.
“The buildings have been kept unused from so many years due to which now their conditions are very bad. They also give a shabby look to the area. The government should look at them and make use of them,” said Abhijit Salgaonkar local.
In the early years after Liberation, the government used these structures as government stores to store the illegal alcohol and also as accommodation for government officials and during this time the buildings were properly maintained. It was later that out of neglect, these were abandoned and furniture and other items from these buildings were stolen.
Instead of maintaining these buildings, the government is paying high rents for offices.
There are two buildings next to Pernem police station which are unused. Proceeding towards the Querim-Tiracol coastline there are many such buildings, which can be renovated and reconstructed, which could even be used as home stays for tourists.
This would also help create employment in the area and earn revenue for the government. For that the buildings have to be put to use.
“These buildings can be renovated and used as home stays for tourists or they can build a garden for children or walking area for elderly people,” said Kirti Kanolkar a local.
