from Sanjay Borkar
for Daijiworld Media Network – Margao (SM)

Margao, Aug 31: One fails to understand the move of the government to lease out the old Goa Medical College building to one of the parties from New Delhi, to build a shopping mall, in spite of its assurances to the Goans that it will not be leased out to anyone for commercial purpose, said Matanhy Saldanha, former tourism minister and now a general secretary of United Goans Democratic Party, in a press release.

Goans made hue and cry over this issue, four months ago, that this building should not be leased to any business house for commercial use. As it has a heritage value, it has made government to stoop down to people demand and has shelved this issue, saying that it will not be leased to any parties.

But according to sources now, the government has changed its decision and is in move to lease out this building to Delhi-based firm for which Saldanha expressed his concern and said that those sites and buildings having heritage importance should be preserved.

He has alleged that this plan was shelved in the month of April, two months prior to assembly elections, perhaps in an attempt to hoodwink the electorate.

Government should know the day Goa became free from the Portuguese colonial rule; everything that is in Goa became Goa’s Heritage and is no longer Portuguese. It is only fanatics and narrow-minded people who cry foul over these historical buildings and monuments. Besides, the GMC was the first Medical College in Asia, said Saldanha.

Saldanha has suggested that government that old secretariat as well as the old medical college buildings should be converted into museums, as it could be the source of tourist attraction and will generate income for the state.