VASCO: The Mormugao Fort, a heritage structure has now become a hub for anti-social elements. With its rich heritage importance and historical background, the fort needs to be protected but a visit to this site showed a sorry picture of this iconic monument. Herald has in the past covered how the fort is in urgent need of attention but it doesn’t appear that much has changed since then. What has irked locals is that had the Fort been maintained better, it would have attracted more tourists and history enthusiasts instead of it being a spot for youngsters to gather and indulge in various nefarious activities.
At the moment, one can see a lot of plastic waste, broken glass liquor bottles and so on at the fort’s premises. There also doesn’t seem to be any security guard, CCTV cameras or any set up that can act as a deterrent.
Incidentally, there is a warning sign at the entrance that mentions that the Fort is a protected site and has State importance; and that if anyone causes any damage, alteration, defacing or misuse of this monument is punishable for three months imprisonment and can face a fine of Rs 5000. Sadly nobody seems to be paying heed to this message at the site, which locals say has been neglected.
However, Blossom Medeira, Director of the Archives and Archaeology department, stressed that the department has taken all necessary steps to protect and take care of the Mormugao Fort and such heritage-historical monuments across Goa.
She further mentioned that presently the surrounding area of Fort has developed wild vegetation, which she said will be cleared soon and that the work for the same has been tendered.
When asked whether there have been any efforts from the Tourism department and Archaeological department to beautify and maintain such historical monuments to its original condition, to this Medeira replied in the affirmative and said there have been initiatives to see that these heritage sites are a tourist attraction.
History enthusiast Rohan Bandekar pointed out that the Fort’s main structure has been notified, but the Destero Fort wall (retaining wall) which is also the circumference of the entire Fort has been completely neglected and has not been notified till date. "There are also some lesser known spots of this Fort which also have cannons which have fallen down after years of natural forces.
He along with fellow history buff Kiran Naik from Vasco recalled various other interesting facts about the history of the Fort and also what is known amongst the public.
“I even heard from elders that this Fort had around five to seven underground tunnels which opened on various places. All these things need to be preserved by the State government as well as by the people. Such heritage sites need to be beautified with proper illumination, drinking water facilities, toilet facilities, and there should be timely maintenance for it to be a tourist attraction which the government is lacking to implement" Naik said.
Bandekar also felt that given Vasco is connected to the cruise terminal, airport and railways, the Fort, if beautified and preserved, could become a famous tourist site, which could also generate revenue and give business to locals.
“The government needs to take cognizance of these rich heritage monuments and sites before they are long gone.
Parshuram Sonurlekar of Goa First NGO questioned the role of the Department of Archives and Archaeology for not taking this matter seriously enough.
“Certain historical monuments from Goa, which are revenue generating, are well protected whereas some monuments, which do not generate revenue, seem to be kept in a neglected condition. I feel there should be proper cleanliness, proper illumination and vigil of police at this Fort to keep miscreants and illicit activities at bay,” he added.