PANAJI
The Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) has welcomed the decision to protect and preserve Goa’s heritage homes which it said was a long-overdue step to recognise the rich cultural legacy of the State.
The party however said that it was imperative that the government ensures inclusivity in these efforts ” heritage is not limited to Portuguese-era houses alone.
"We demand that ancestral homes of the Hindu community and all other communities that form Goa’s diverse social and cultural fabric be brought under the ambit of the heritage protection scheme," a statement issued by the party's media department head, Amarnath Panjikar said.
He added that selective preservation will only serve cosmetic interests and fail the true spirit of Goan identity.
Panjikar said in the statement that Goa’s heritage is not confined to old buildings alone but deeply rooted in the land, rivers, hills, paddy fields, forests, biodiversity and traditional occupations.
"If the government is truly serious about preserving Goa, it must declare Goa itself as a living heritage and immediately halt the systematic destruction of its ecosystem," Panjikar said.
"It is tragic and alarming that the BJP government, driven by greed and guided by corrupt motives, is hell-bent on converting land into concrete jungles and selling Goa piece by piece to outsiders," Panjikar said, adding that the reckless overdrive in land conversion is auctioning of Goa’s soul.
He said, GPCC strongly demands the inclusion of all heritage homes of all Goan communities under the protection scheme and an immediate moratorium on land conversions and commercial exploitation of Goa’s natural resources.
