Team Herald
BICHOLIM: The Sanquelim Municipal council (SMC) began with the removal of debris and shops near the Sanquelim fort which is proposed for restoration.
It may be noted that there are many shops surrounding the Sanquelim fort which is strategically placed at the center of the city.
Heritage groups including the Goa Heritage Action Group had repeatedly demanded with government for restoration of the fort.
“The fort, which dates back to the pre-Portuguese era, is in a dilapidated condition and is crumbling with each passing day. It needs to be conserved and preserved for posterity,” said heritage activist and GHAG chairperson, Prajal Sakhardande who had demanded earlier.
The fort was in news in 2015 when a portion of the famous Sanquelim Fort collapsed on a shop, injuring a 42-year-old man, while 27 shops surrounding the area were reeling under similar fear.
The work of shifting the shopkeepers to new premises was earlier done by the municipality. Today the work of removing the shops was carried out paving a way forward towards restoring the fort.
