Heritage building ‘Camara Municipal de Salcete’ to get a breadth of life. -- By Nisser Dias

Camara Municipal de Salcete in the old market at Margao a heritage building where history is engraved not in print and ink but in blood and bullets. This historic structure which was neglected for decades has got a new lease of life with the current Council body working out the modalities to take over the building from the private owners by compensating them and restoring it to its past glory.

A view of 'Camara' building in its present condition.

It is historic because the Portuguese rulers opened fire and killed innocent Goans to win elections.

On September 21, 1890 it was the day for Municipal elections under the erstwhile regime of the Portuguese rulers. Around 6000 voters from Margao and surrounding villages had come to Margao to cast their ballot.

The political parties in the fray were - Partido Indiano – a popular local outfit who held the reins of administration for many years and Partido Ultramarino – a party backed by the Portuguese who at any cost want to win the elections.

What was supposed to be peaceful election turned out to be a blood bath as Maj. Filipe Torres ordered to open fire on innocent people leaving 23 dead and few hundred injured.

Similar act was re-enacted 29 year later at Amritsar’s Jallianwalla Bagh in Punjab but by the British.

Former MMC chairperson, writer and author of ‘Soaring Spirit’ Valmiki Faleiro dedicated a chapter in his book to this building stating, “"Stately, by the standards when it was built in 1770, and elegant even until the mid-20th century, the old municipal building was constructed by the state with funds squeezed out of overtaxed Salcete gaunkaris (the municipal senate covered the entire taluka). The senado (senate) was formed in the year 1775. Margao was elevated to the status of a vila (town) on April 3, 1778. The civic body was raised to the status of a municipality in 1822-24."

Incidentaly the present council too has used the part funds allotted for burial grounds for acquiring this dilapidated heritage building from the original owners says ward councillor Glen Andrade. He further said that the previous council had resolved to demolish the building as it was unsafe but we have passed a resolution to buy it from the owner Alina Araujo Vaz and sent it to Directorate of Municipal Administration (DMA) for approval. “I worked very hard for it meeting the MLA and TCP minister several times over the issue to somehow make it possible to restore. Vijay Sardessai was keen in preserving the structure but question was how to generate the funds but he came up with the solutions and I am happy that in a couple of years the building will be restored to its originality.”

Faleiro in his books states that the south Goa taluka's municipal offices were housed in the rear part of the ground floor and the entire upper floor of the building.

The facade on the ground floor had six shops three on either side of the entrance porch.

The author also states that the old camara building was substantially renovated in 1873, it partly collapsed in 1897 and 1898. In April 1898, the offices of the Camara were shifted to a premises at a location which is now the new municipal market.

In 2009 with Savio Coutinho as the chairperson of  Margao Municipal Council had adopted a resolution to acquire and conserve the Camara building, on grounds that the building is of great heritage and historical importance.

But the last council under chairperson Arthur D’silva had listed it to be demolished given its dilapidated condition however senior citizens and heritage lovers raised a banner of protest because of which the proposal had to be dropped.

Fatorda MLA and minister for Archives and Archaeology Vijay Sardessai said, “In my opinion the issue has to be settled properly and the owners should get their dues for the property. Secondly I am working on a package to settle the tenants occupying the building and thirdly the experts will be roped in for its restoration which will be funded through Archives and Archaeology department.”

Valmiki Faleiro said, “the present municipal council, headed by an erudite and highly qualified professional, plans to acquire and restore the heritage building. For the first time, too, the local MLA Vijay Sardessai, has shown firm and unwavering commitment to heritage protection and conservation. This happily augurs well for the future of the historic building, which many had written off as irredeemable.