Premises also used for alcohol consumption during night hours
TEAM HERALD
PONDA: The famous fortress dedicated to Maratha King Chhatrapati Shivaji at Farmagudi-Ponda has become a den for love birds during the day and at night some youth often use the place to consume alcohol.
Every day, especially during weekdays, several college youth in pairs are seen occupying the corners in the fortress.
“They (students) are least bothered even if there are visitors at the fortress and continue to sit in any of the corners in the fortress. It’s embarrassing for tourists visiting the fortress and it’s high time that the government take some measures and concentrate on preserving the sanctity of the place,” said a villager.
According to information, youth at night utilise the place to consume alcohol as is evident from empty liquor cans dumped in the fortress.
Sources informed that the government has appointed security guards to keep an eye during the day; however, they are rarely seen at the site.
“We have on several occasions brought this to the notice of the government authority. However, sadly no concrete steps have been taken. Government is spending about Rs 18 lakh on celebrating Shivaji Jayanti every year, but the fortress dedicated to Shivaji lies neglected. Even the lights at the fortress are not in order. I hope authorities will look into the matter immediately,” said Damu Naik, a Shiv Sena leader from Ponda.
For most foreign tourists, the fortress is a photo stop point and the fortress is occasionally visited by Indian tourists.
“For foreign tourists, it is a photo stop point and sometimes foreign tourists pose for photographs in front of the fortress. If government wants to improve the facilities at the fortress, then the fortress should be handed over to the Archaeological Survey of India,” Anand Sawant, spokesperson, Goa Guides Association, told Herald.
