Functioning at Adil Shah Palace to cease soon BY HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, FEB 1 - It's shifting time for ministers and their offices located at the old Secretariat as plans are in the offing to move the seat of power from the old Adil Shah Palace to the new Secretariat complex, Porvorim by 7th February 2006.
The Public Works Dept has been instructed to complete all works in the new adjoining block at the Secretariat, Porvorim by 5th February and the shifting process from Panjim to Porvorim is likely to begin by February 6th. According to Secretary General Administration Ashwani Kumar, "The shifting of ministerial offices from Panjim to Porvorim will facilitate the functioning of the government with the rest of the administration and the new block will act as a composite block for more effective functioning." According to officials, the old Secretariat has historical value and cannot be used as a permanent office. It is not known as to what use the old Secretariat will be put to after the ministerial offices are shifted. In the meantime, the Fundacao Oriente has submitted its report on the old Secretariat which is forwarded to the General Administration Department. This institution has inspected the historical structure and has made several recommendations for conservation, preservation etc. Likewise, a committee which was constituted by the department of archives, archaeology and museums for the purpose of suggesting purposeful use of the erstwhile palace. The committee is likely to be revived , according to officials. The committee had previously suggested that the government could use the Adil Shah Palace for a museum depicting Goa's historical past. However no final decision had been taken and suggestions were temporarily shelved after the Congress coalition govt took over the state administration last year. The Rane led government which has been seated at the old Secretariat for a month from February 3 to March 4 2005 and now since June last year seems to have accepted the fact that functioning from Panjim has become increasing inconvenient for the cabinet with the entire bureaucracy seated at Porvorim.