Roof tiles of Portuguese era structure go missing

CANACONA, JUNE 26
A Portuguese era structure, which served as a check post and later used by forest department, could well disappear from Pissonnem-Padi, Canacona.
According to reports, the entire roof tiles have gone suspiciously missing even before the monsoons hit the State. Presently, rains pour directly inside through the open roof.
According to sources, the roof tiles have gone missing in a regular manner, since the last few months.
“Initially, about 50 tiles were found removed, however in later days, the roof began to slowly turn totally empty with only few broken tile pieces tucked over the empty roof,” informed sources.
Rains that directly gush inside have almost destroyed the oldest Portuguese-built building, which unlike the buildings of those years had even a toilet and bath facilities.
Interestingly, even in recent years the building was used by forest department’s Cashew Corporation for stocking and distributing cashew saplings to the farmers. But the activities seem to have been suspended over a year ago with no one knowing the reason behind it, said the sources.
The well-built building exists across the national highway-17 at the foot of Karmalghat on Padi side and regularly used by the authorities, but is unfortunately left to destroy, thereby exposing the entire roof timber, walls and its interiors.
When pointed why timber of yesteryears was not salvaged, the source said: “Anyway, the building itself will go for demolition to make way for NH-17 widening project.”