Goa: ‘20% Corjuem fort work done, to be ready by May’

PANAJI: Minister for archives and archaeology Subhash Phal Dessai has said that 20% of restoration work of the Corjuem fort is complete and that the entire restoration will be completed by May 2023.
“The restoration work of the fort is in progress,” Phal Dessai said, adding that no extension for the March 2023 deadline has been granted to the executing agency.
Meanwhile, Aldona MLA Carlos Ferreira said that even in school 35% is the passing percentage and that completion of just 20% of work means that virtually nothing has been done, except for stones being brought to the site. “According to me, 20% is a failure. I only hope the work is completed within the stipulated time and no extensions are applied for or granted and escalation hits the restoration work. I also believe that restoration work should include development of local traditional business, thus promoting Goa in its original flavour,” he said
Phal Dessai said that the current work on the fort is limited to the scope of providing a pathway and basic amenities such as toilets, drinking water facility and ticket counter.
The Corjuem fort is declared as a protected monument under the Goa, Daman and Diu Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act of 1978, 1 of 1979 and its rules 1980.
Its restoration, at an estimated cost of Rs 2.8 crore, began in January. The consultant for the project is conservation architect Ketan Nachionalkar and the work is being executed by a Gujarat-based company. Restoration work on the fort was earlier carried out in 2000 and in 2013, fabrication and fixing of mild steel railings covering the well was undertaken.
Twelve forts are notified as protected monuments by the department of archaeology. Phal Dessai said all 12 are regularly maintained by carrying out vegetation clearance, minor repair and restorations as and when required. “Restoration of the Alorna fort is complete. Restoration of the Sanquelim fort, Chapora fort and the Cabo de Rama fort are in process,” he said.