Goa eye Portuguese expertise to repair dilapidated grand Goan villas

Goa may look to Portuguese expertise to repair and commercially tap dilapidated grand Goan villas, which are synonymous with the state's countryside, said a state Minister on Saturday.

Goa may look to Portuguese expertise to repair and commercially tap dilapidated grand Goan villas, which are synonymous with the state's countryside, said a state Minister on Saturday.

"We were discussing houses in Goa, which are also in dilapidated condition because some people who are staying in Portugal cannot come here and even maintain the houses," Public Works Department Minister Sudin Dhavalikar said at a function, held in the state capital, to facilitate the signing of a memorandum of understanding between his Ministry and the Portuguese Environment Ministry for sharing of expertise in the area of water and sewage management.

"But definitely, it is our prime duty as the government of Goa to take help of the Portuguese government even to implement some of the good things," he said.

Traditional Goan homes inspired by Indo-Portuguese architecture styles of a bygone era, some of which are several centuries old, dot the state's landscape.

But due to exorbitant repair costs and lack of manpower, many such houses are in derelict condition.

Speaking at the function, Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma said during a recent visit to Portugal, a Goa government delegation had met representatives of a private concern, which specialised in putting traditional houses on the market.

Restoration of old homes, Sharma said, would be a shot in the arm as far as promotion of tourism is concerned.