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Time of India
5 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Highway drainage flaws flood Ponda's Safa Masjid
Panaji: The iconic Safa Masjid in Ponda is facing serious challenges following this month's surge in rainfall. A technical flaw in the newly-constructed highway near the Kadamba bus stand is being blamed, as rainwater from the road is flowing directly into the mosque's premises, flooding its lawns and the centuries-old water tank. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'There is no proper slope for the water to flow,' said Rajesh Nayak, former sarpanch of Bandora. 'The flaw in the engineering design has allowed the rainwater to accumulate and rush into the masjid's gardens, ultimately flooding the tank. We have verbally communicated with engineers of the contractor hired by the PWD to rectify this issue at the earliest, but are still awaiting visible action,' he said. Constructed in 1560 by Ibrahim Ali Adil Shah, the Safa Masjid is one of the last surviving remnants of Islamic architecture in Goa. Next to the mosque lies a historic water tank known for its unique mihrab-style arches that once served as hammams (bathing niches). These arches, each approximately 2.2m by 1.2m — except for the smaller ones near the stairs — are now being submerged. 'The rainwater carries mud and dirt from the road into the tank. This tank has long supported a delicate aquatic ecosystem, including fish, turtles, and crabs, all of which are now threatened by the polluted inflow,' said Safa Masjid committee president, Murtuza Mulla. The tank is also a vital element of the mosque's daily religious practices, serving as a source of clean water for ablutions. The committee has been seeking assistance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the agency responsible for protecting the site, to intervene in the matter. 'Multiple attempts to talk to the ASI have been futile. We are now awaiting communication from them so that we can continue to protect the archaeological site,' said Mulla.
Time of India
27-06-2025
- General
- Time of India
Male tiger ‘Reva' added to Hampi Zoo
Kamalapur (Vijayanagara): A male tiger named 'Reva' arrived at the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Geological Park, located near Hampi, on Thursday. This park, also referred to as Hampi Zoo, is one of its kind in Kalyana Karnataka that features a safari. The Central Zoological Authority in New Delhi approved the transfer of a male tiger and a male hippopotamus from Pilikula Biological Park in Mangaluru as part of an animal exchange programme. 'The number of visitors to the zoo is growing daily. A significant number of animals are being brought in to draw in tourists. Now that the tiger has arrived, the hippopotamus will follow in the coming days,' stated DCF Rajesh Nayak, who also serves as the executive director of the zoo. The Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zoological Park was inaugurated in Nov 2017 and is situated 10 kilometres from Hampi, the Unesco World Heritage site. Covering an area of 141 hectares, the park is home to tigers, lions, spotted deer, sambar, barking deer, and more. Numerous animals such as crocodiles, hyenas, leopards, bears, turtles, foxes, and langurs were transferred from the Ballari Mini Zoo. The zoo houses over 80 species of birds, four lions, and many tigers. Hampi Zoo features a fully equipped wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, where 20 injured wild bears were treated and subsequently released back into the forest.
