MARGAO
Openly batting for the protection of Chandor's rich history and heritage, Town and Country Minister Vijai Sardesai on Sunday questioned the rationale behind proposing the State highway through the heritage village, even going to the extent of issuing veiled warning that he may descend on the streets to agitate alongside the people to scrap the state highway.
Speaking at the finals of the 44th Seamen trophy at the Chandor football ground on Sunday, the TCP Minister reminded that Chandor has a rich history and heritage and it is the duty of everyone, including the government to ensure that the heritage is protected for posterity.
"I am committed to protect Chandor's history and heritage. If the people of Chandor want, I as the TCP Minister can assure your that Chandor's heritage and houses is protected in the Regional Plan. Goa Forward swears by Goem, Goemkar and Goemkarponn and I will stand by the people of Chandor if any attempt is made to bulldoze with the state highway," he said.
Saying that Chandor can be clubbed as a heritage tourism model, Sardesai, however, said that the people of the village should be left to decided what actually they want.
Saying that he is personally opposed to the state highway passing through Chandor, the TCP Minister said the state highway can destroy the village history and heritage. "This is my personal opinion. I have discussed the issue with the Chief Minister, who is also of the opinion that people should be left to decide for themselves," he said, adding that he has called for a meeting with PWD senior engineers on the state highway.
"It is the government's duty to retain Chandor's history and heritage. As the Minister for Archives and archaeology, I am of the opinion that the archival value of houses in Chandor should be retained. Let the MLA and the people come out with a proposal and the same will be considered positively", he said.
Earlier in his address, Cuncolim MLA Clafacio Dias said the government should address the concerns of Chandor villagers in respect of the state highway as well as the infrastructure relating to the railway crossing at Chandor.
