Security at Shivaji monument to be outsourced

PONDA: Following complaints of miscreants misusing the monument built in honour of Maratha king Shivaji at Farmagudi, Ponda, the tourism department has decided to outsource security arrangements at the site.
Director of tourism Swapnil Naik has said that the department is ready to entrust the cleanliness work of the monument to any educational institution."The volunteers of National Social Service (NSS) could maintain cleanliness at the fort as an extra-curricular activity,'' Naik said.
The problem of poor security at the monument was raised during a function held in memory of Shivaji on Thursday. Former chief minister Shashikala Kakodkar had slammed the government over poor maintenance at the site had asked the government to hand over responsibility of its maintenance and security to her as she was ready to protect it with help from the people.
The structure is situated at Farmagudi, about two km from Ponda. It is recognized by the tourism department as a tourism spot' and is popular with both domestic and foreign tourists
as it is close to the holy places of Bal Gopal Ganapati temple and Safa masjid.