Supply stonewall: Corjuem fort restoration faces laterite sourcing challenge | Goa News

Porvorim: The restoration work of the Corjuem fort is nearly 90% complete, archaeology minister Subhash Phal Desai said. Only the allied civil works outside the fort are remaining as the restoration faced challenges in sourcing specific sizes (50cm x 30cm x 17cm) of laterite stones as per the original 17th-century specifications, the minister said in response to an unstarred assembly question during the recently concluded legislative assembly.
“Stone sizes of 34cm x 25cm x 16cm are available as they are used for normal construction works. The contractor told the archaeology department about the difficulty in procuring laterite stones of the specific size in Goa or neighbouring areas of Maharashtra such as Kankavali and Kudal, among others.” he said.
Restoration works, including repairs using historical techniques and procurement of ancient materials, continue. The beautification works, including pathways, parking, toilet facilities, and an amphitheatre outside the fort, will commence next.
The contractor has been granted an extension until March 31. “The work completion will need further extension in terms of the work to be done on site,” Phal Desai said.
Chief minister Pramod Sawant, during his budget speech on Wednesday, said that the Corjuem fort, which is being renovated at a cost of Rs 3 crore, will be completed this year.
Located in Aldona, the Corjuem Fort was built in 1550 and was constructed with laterite stone in a square shape. It has bastions at each of the four corners with embrasures for cannons. The walls are wide and have multiple gun ports.
It was originally the property of the Bhonsle rulers of Sawantwadi. However, in the time of Viceroy Caetano de Mello e Castro, the fort was annexed to the Portuguese administration of Goa. The colonists rebuilt the fort in 1705 to boost their defences of Panaji, which had by then become the capital city.
Although small, the fort had great strategic importance. During the 18th century, it held off Maratha invasions by Rane Rajput and the Bhonsles. In the early 1800s, the fort was used as a military school. It was armed with a small battalion of four guns and it defended the town of Corjuem.