MARGAO
Margao's old market area - which plays host to the century-old Tinto, the crumbling Salcete de Camara building, a row of small and business establishments and the heritage houses, extending right up to the Holy Spirit Church - is set to receive a fresh lease of life.
The "Goa Tinto Project" has envisaged documentation of the existing spatial, functional and visual character of the defined area of intervention, comprising of the Old market and the Municipal building near the Holy Spirit Church. The project mooted by the Minister for TCP, Archives and Archaeology will also propose a restoration plan along with a detailed estimate for the scheme.
While the Margao Municipal Council has mooted acquisition of the Salcete de Camara building, the government has mulled a host of measures for the Old market as a whole, right from the existing tinto to the heritage structures lining around the Holy Spirit Church square, including a master plan to restore the heritage structure along the adjoining roads, footpaths and vegetation.
Architect Ankeet Prabhudesai says: "The Tinto in Goa is a crude, primitive departmental store where fish, meat and the local produce in vegetables and fruits, baskets, ropes and even farming implements and livestock were sold. Quintessentially, it was an open dais with broad pillars and a tiled roof which later got transformed into proper secured shops."
Giving details of the project, Prabhudesai said the area of intervention comprises of the Market area and Municipal Building near the Holy Spirit Church. The whole aim is to document the existing spatial, functional and visual character of the defined area of intervention and proposing a restoration plan along with a detailed estimate for the same," he added.
Unveiling the ambitious project, TCP Minister Vijai Sardesai said the project will document in detail the architectural character of structures predating to Pre-Liberation era. "The entire exercise will analyse the existing documentation about these structures which will help in the restoration. A serious attempt will be made to study the prevailing conditions affecting the area of intervention like movement of vehicles, parking, existing vegetation and usage pattern," Sardesai said.
Asserting that the panel of experts will be constituted to take the exercise forward, the TCP minister, who represents Fatorda, said the team will propose a master plan of restoration of these structures along with the surrounding roads, footpaths and vegetation. The team will also go into the details on the question of preparing the estimates to implement the proposed restoration plan, he added.
"The exercise is not only aimed at preparing the master plan and work out the modalities for the restoration of the Tinto and the heritage structures, but will fund the entire exercise. I have spoken to the Chief Minister and I am optimistic that adequate provision would be made to execute the plan," Sardesai said.
