PONDA: Former PWD minister and Maharashtrawadi Gomantak Party (MGP) Marcaim MLA Sudin Dhavalikar said that the Portuguese-era Raj Bhavan is in a dilapidated condition and should be preserved by handing over it to Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). “At present, considering the State’s financial crisis, it is not possible to go construction of new Raj bhavan, but in near future it is essential. If not today, we have to construct a new one after some time,” Dhavalikar stated.
He said, “If we handover this Raj Bhavan to the ASI then the government should obtain fund from them because we will be handing over the Bhavan which is historic.”
“There was lot of criticism over the construction of New Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister had to face it. He announced to construct a new Bhavan with no proper information, so did not get support from his Cabinet ministers to defend his stand,” he added.
“The Portuguese era Raj Bhavan palace is in a dilapidated condition and there is a need of construction a new one, however, considering the financial crisis of the State, it can be delayed,” Dhavalikar said.
“Mostly, wood has been used in its construction and it is located near the sea. The hillock located on one side of it is likely to cave in.”
The ASI has already cleared that one side of the Raj Bhavan is weakened due to tidal waves. When I was minister I repaired the Raj Bhavan twice. Even if the new Bhavan is constructed, the old one should be handed over to ASI and fund should be collected from them for construction of new one,” he said.
“Efforts were made to construct new Raj Bhavan since 2002 and even the Congress Party has conducted a study on it. The Governor opposed the new Raj Bhavan considering the State’s financial crisis. Even the Raj Bhavan has to clear pending bills of palace to the tune of Rs 2 crore. But there is need of new Raj Bhavan.”
He said, “For construction of new Raj Bhavan Rs 7 crore is not sufficient as claimed by the Chief Minister. It would require around 2000 square metres of land and incur cost more than Rs 15 crore.”
