Ponda, September 24: The Government of Goa has issued a notification under the Goa Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978, granting protected status to the historic Mardangad Fort in Ponda and Hatkatro Khamb in Old Goa.
Against this backdrop, office-bearers of the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and the Mardangad Protection Committee met Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant and congratulated him on the decision. They also met Subhash Phal Dessai, the then Minister for Archaeology and the current Minister for Social Welfare, and Vasco MLA Krishna alias Daji Salkar, who made significant contributions towards the notification of Mardangad, and congratulated them.
Those present on the occasion included Hindu Janajagruti Samiti National Spokesperson Ramesh Shinde, Goa State Organiser Satyavijay Naik, and Mardangad Protection Committee members Rajendra Desai, Narayan Nadkarni, Manoj Gaonkar, Suchendra Agni, and Swapnil Naik.
On August 8, 2025, then Archaeology Minister and current Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phal Dessai had announced in the Goa Legislative Assembly that the historic Mardangad Fort would be notified for its protection and conservation. The announcement was made during a discussion on a resolution moved by Vasco MLA Krishna alias Daji Salkar.
Against this backdrop, MLA Daji Salkar and Minister Subhash Phal Dessai were congratulated for their efforts.
The Government’s initiative to protect these historic monuments was welcomed by the Hindu Janajagruti Samiti and the Mardangad Protection Committee, which have now urged the Government to take further steps for their conservation and development.
