Convert erstwhile central jail at Aguada into museum: BJP MLA

Deputy Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and BJP legislator Michael Lobo today demanded in the House that the erstwhile central jail at Aguada near Panaji should be converted into a museum.

The jail, which was constructed during the Portuguese era has been shut since May 30, 2015 ever since the state commissioned a new facility at Colvale, 20 kms away from here.

Speaking in the Assembly, Lobo demanded that the erstwhile jail, which overlooks the Arabian Sea, should be converted into a museum.

"The excess artifacts at Goa State Museum can be shifted to this place which has a rich heritage," he said.

Lobo said operating museums have become a business internationally with the governments abroad charging fees from the visitors.

"I think if a museum is properly developed, tourists won't mind paying fees up to Rs 500 to see it," he said.

The legislator also said that the state-run Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) has already got Rs 25 crore sanctioned for the development of the erstwhile Aguada jail, which can be utilised for setting up the museum.