PANAJI: The State government has approved eight new historically important sites including Hath Katro Khamb at Old Goa, also known as Inquisition Pillar to be declared as “protected monuments” under the State Archaeological List.
Hath Katro Khamb at Old Goa, Betul Fort, Nanus Fort, Rock Engravings at Mauxi, Stone circle at Cotigao, Kranti Veer Dipaji Rane’s House at Kumbharkhand, Sattari, Soliye temple at Canocana and Tank of Shri. Vazreshwar Temple at Balli are new structures identified for protection under ‘State List’. Sources informed that the government has already approved the proposal and the notification is expected soon. “These sites have remained neglected for years. Their inclusion in the State list will allow the government to undertake necessary restoration while also ensuring its conservation and protection,” sources said.
It can be recalled that the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in his 2024-25 State Budget had announced to grant necessary protection to these structures. There are 51 notified monuments and sites maintained by the department, which includes forts, caves, rock engravings and water tanks. Meanwhile, the Directorate of Archaeology has moved a proposal for undertaking structural audit of all 51 protected monuments in the State. The structural audit, as assured on the Floor of the House by the Minister Subhash Faldesai, will be undertaken for the preparation of restoration plans .
Sources said that the proposal to undertake structural audit of the protected monuments was long overdue and due to various reasons the same could not be executed. It was in 2019, when the proposal for structural audit was mooted for the first time. The similar moves were afoot in 2023.
