INTACH to renovate 16th century fortess of Reis Magos in Goa:Rane

Panaji, Mar 3 (UNI) The Goa government has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for the renovation and restoration of the 16th century fortress Reis Magos, built by the Portuguese in 1551.

The MoU was signed yesterday by Chief Secretary J P Singh and INTACH Chairman S K Mishra in the presence of Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane at an official function held at the Porvorim secretariat complex.

London-based Helen Hamlyn Trust is funding the entire cost of the project, which is about Rs 3.45 crore. Architecture Autonomous has been appointed as consultants for the purpose.

It would take 24 months for restoration and renovation after which the fortress would be open to the public. The renovated fort would be given back to the state government after 15 years.

An autonomous management committee, to be constituted by the three parties, willl manage the fort for 15 years after its restoration, the Chief Minister said.

Talking to mediapersons later, Mr Rane said the government has decided to earmark additional funds to the Department of Archaeology for restoration of several other heritage monuments including forts to promote tourism.

''This is my gift to Goa for preserving its cultural heritage,'' Hamlyn Trust founder and chairperson Helen Hamlyn quipped and added that several similar projects were underway in India.

The fortress, nestled amidst the green hilly slopes on the right bank of meandering River Mandovi at Betim, was an outpost built by Adilshah of Bijapur. In 1551, Portuguese Viceroy Dom Afonso de Norohna developed it and three years later, it was refurbished to be rechristened as Royal Fort.

After the completion of restoration work, the tourists can walk along the citadel including the chapels, shrine, ramparts, courtyard and cells, beside witnessing the cannons.

UNI