Water transport to heritage forts by October, says Sawant

Pernem: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the Goa government plans to introduce a water transport network connecting major heritage forts across the state as part of its strategy to promote tourism while preserving historical monuments.

“The government aims to launch the project under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model by October,” said Sawant. The initiative will enable tourists to travel by boat between heritage sites, allowing them to visit multiple forts in a single day while reducing travel time.

Sawant, who was speaking after the rededication of the restored Alorna Fort, said the project forms part of the government’s vision of ‘Development along with Heritage’.

“Several monuments, including the Saptakoteshwar Temple, Aguada Jail Museum and Sankhali Fort, have already been restored. The government is also identifying previously unprotected archaeological sites to provide them with legal protection and undertake restoration,” he said.

Sawant said regions such as Pernem, Bicholim and Sattari were once strongholds of the Maratha Empire and the Sawant Bhonsles of Sawantwadi. He said detailed information would be displayed at forts to encourage educational visits.

The restoration of the 17th-century Alorna Fort was completed at a cost of around Rs 66 lakh. Sawant said a second phase is planned to rebuild collapsed structures and construct a retaining wall. The Digital Museum dedicated to Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at Farmagudi Fort is likely to be ready within the next six months, he said.

CM calls for stronger rainwater conservation after PM’s address

Panaji: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Sunday urged the people of Goa to actively participate in the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign, calling for stronger public involvement in water conservation to ensure the state’s long-term water sustainability.

Following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address, Sawant appealed to citizens to conserve every drop of rainwater.

“We must save every single drop of rainwater and cannot let the momentum of the ‘Catch the Rain’ campaign slacken in the slightest. Let us come together to save every drop of rain,” he said.

Sawant listened to the live broadcast of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s monthly radio programme, ‘Mann Ki Baat’, at the BJP state headquarters in Panaji. Later, he participated in a digital training session for party workers and paid tribute to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee on his Balidan Diwas.

Sawant said the BJP organised all the three programmes at its state headquarters on Sunday.

He said Mann Ki Baat strengthens the connect between the government and citizens, while the digital training initiative aims to build a technologically empowered party organisation.

Sawant was accompanied by BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh and other party officials.