By Satyavatinandan Satrekar
A mining company in Bicholim is currently preventing public access to the Namazgah site, which was notified as a protected monument by the Goa government nearly 25 years ago. Recently, a group of heritage enthusiasts visiting the Namazgah were denied entry by security personnel on duty with the mining company, who stated that the road used for vehicle access passes through the mining lease.
Laxman Gawas, manager of Vedanta Mines, confirmed that entry via the road passing through the mining area has been stopped, and public access has been redirected to a new route. However, visitors like Deepak Harvalkar pointed out that the alternative path is extremely difficult to navigate. The only available route has numerous steps, is obstructed by overgrown vegetation, and has not been maintained. He questioned how physically challenged visitors would be able to reach the site, emphasizing that this is a historically and archaeologically significant monument, showcasing the history and heritage of Goan architecture and patronized by the Mughal prince Akbar II, son of Emperor Aurangzeb.
Nilesh B. Fal Dessai, Director of Archaeology, confirmed that staff from the department and the Goa Human Resource Development Corporation (GHRDC), deployed at Namazgah, Bicholim, are being denied access via the road passing through the mining lease. He stated that the mining company has been instructed not to restrict access to the deployed staff or the public, as Namazgah is a notified monument that attracts regular visitors. Denial of access affects the duties of staff and prevents the public from visiting and appreciating this archaeological site.
The Namazgah, built in the latter half of the seventeenth century with the support of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, reflects elements of Mughal-era architecture, including a dome, crescent moon motifs, and an open-air prayer area. A historic pathway carved for horses, which once connected it to the town of Bicholim, has also been disrupted.
Currently, mining activities, including the clearing of ore dumps and transportation of ore, are ongoing near the site and are posing serious threats to the foundation of the Namazgah. Residents of Bicholim have expressed concerns over unregulated mining practices, citing environmental and ecological damage.
The Namazgah remains a significant historical and architectural monument, but access and preservation are increasingly compromised due to ongoing mining operations in the area.
Access Blocked…
Mining Blocks Access to Historic Namazgah in Bicholim
The mining company in Bicholim is restricting public access to the protected Namazgah site.
Visitors and archaeology staff were denied entry via the old road passing through the mining lease.
The alternative path is difficult and overgrown, limiting access for physically challenged people.
Namazgah, built in the 17th century with the support of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, showcases Mughal-period architecture.
Ongoing mining activities threaten the site’s foundation, raising heritage and environmental concerns.
