MARGAO: In a welcome development, the Margao Municipal Council (MMC) has begun exploring ways of conserving the heritage structures located in the state's commercial capital. For starters, the old municipality building located in the old market, Margao and the ancient house of the great Goan parliamentarian late Fransisco Luis Gomes at Navelim, top the list of heritage structures that the civic body is keen to restore and preserve for posterity.

The MMC has sought the services of the Goa Heritage Action Group (GHAG) in the task of conservation of these two heritage structures. An article penned by Prajal Sakhardande of the GHAG that was published in a local daily some time back and a subsequent letter by the GHAG to the civic body drawing its attention to the ramshackle condition of the old municipal building, spurred the MMC to invite Sakhardande for talks. Monday saw MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho, chief officer Y B Tavde and municipal engineers discussing ways and means to go about preserving the two historical landmarks of the state's commercial capital.

Speaking to TOI after the meeting, Sakhardande said that he, on behalf of the GHAG, urged the municipality to restore the old municipal building "to its former glory without altering its historicity and original heritage character."

"The GHAG believes in adaptive use of heritage buildings and it is imperative that the MMC takes steps to conserve the building so that it remains as a piece of history and heritage of Margao for posterity. The municipal authorities appeared positive about going ahead with the task," Sakhardande said, adding that the first step was to identify the current owners of the historical structures.

MMC chairperson Savio Coutinho, when contacted said that the MMC was serious about restoring the ancient heritage structures that are presently in ruins. "We will work closely with the GHAG and also seek help from the government in this regard," he said.

Sakhardande's article informs that the eighteenth century landmark was the seat of Margao's municipal administration from 1778 till 1905 when the present municipal building was completed and inaugurated.

The ancestral house of the great Goan parlimentarian Fransisco Luis Gomes located at Colmorod, Navelim also lies in ruins. "Considering that the property lies in the prime locality, the government should acquire the land at market price from the present owners after settling the tenants. Setting up a museum depicting the life and works of Fransisco Luis Gomes at the site will serve as a befitting tribute to man who did Navelim and Goa proud," Coutinho had told TOI when this paper first highlighted this ramshackle structure in a story carried on May 31.

CHANDIGARH: With the city yet to adopt the idea of safe nocturnal dining, UT administration has stood by its decision of not allowing any more night

food streets and has instead agreed to allow municipal corporation (MC) to go ahead with food streets which would shut down by 10 pm.

At the coordination committee meeting with UT and MC officials convened by UT adviser Pradip Mehra, it has been decided that the two food streets would come up at sites already identified in Industrial Area phases I and II. The third project would be located in southern sectors.

Mayor Kamlesh said the administration had expressed reservations about having more night food streets in view of a series of incidents of violence at the existing one opposite PGI. That is why MC put forward a revised proposal to have the food streets open during the day.

It was also decided to make alterations in the architectural drawings to add seating arrangement and cover it with sheds so that customers don’t have to run for cover in case of rain, she said.

Planned on the lines of Gawal Mandi food street in Pakistan’s Lahore city, famous for its Punjabi and Mughlai dishes, MC had inaugurated the street in December 2008 with much fanfare.

MC expects to get the revised architectural plan by the end of the month so that the proposal could be approved in the house and work started at the earliest, she said.

In March, six inebriated youths had tried to molest a married woman near the night foodstreet opposite PGI. The incident occurred when the woman’s husband had gone to purchase food, leaving her and their daughter in the car. They had tried to pull the woman out of the vehicle. When she shouted for help, the miscreants had escaped in two cars.

In June, police had asked MC authorities to close the food street by 11 pm, instead of continuing with its 12-hour operation lasting from 7 pm to 7 am. However, MC had stated that the request was in contradiction with the very idea of night food streets.