PANAJI: The Goa government will implement the Goa State Heritage 2025 policy in a phased manner over the next five years, with 122 heritage houses already identified for restoration and maintenance. As part of the policy, a revenue-sharing model will be drafted to support the conservation efforts of private heritage home owners, said Archaeology Minister Subhash Phal Dessai.
“This policy has been prepared after extensive consultation and collaboration,” the minister said at a press briefing on Thursday. “We formed a draft committee within a year, and experts like Dr Pandurang Faldesai and Dr Nandakumar Kamat have played a key role in shaping a comprehensive and holistic approach to heritage management.”
The committee held consultations with various departments, heritage tourism stakeholders, and archaeologists. “This is not just a plan to restore old buildings. It’s a five-year roadmap that covers everything from maintenance to legal frameworks, documentation, and promotion,” Phal Dessai explained.
He said the policy will be updated as it evolves. “We will continue to document whatever comes to our attention. This is a living process,” he added.
The policy aligns Goa’s heritage efforts with relevant central and state acts. “We’re ensuring the legal foundation is clear and effective, with proper roles defined across departments,” he said.
The minister clarified that the policy will protect memorials and heritage houses on private properties while preserving the ownership rights of house owners. “Our intention is to protect, not possess,” he said. All documentation will be archived in libraries for the benefit of future generations. A comprehensive survey will support academic research, and the initiative will also be promoted through a tourism lens to showcase Goa’s unique cultural landscape.
To ensure sustainability, the policy proposes a clear revenue generation and sharing mechanism. “If we want conservation to be viable, heritage homes must be able to generate income and receive government support,” Phal Dessai said.
The mission of the policy is to identify, classify, document, consult, and promote Goa’s heritage in an authentic and inclusive way. “We are building a coordinated administrative framework with strong public participation and support for private owners,” he said.
Phal Dessai said the policy also envisions integration of heritage into tourism, education, planning, and climate resilience. “Heritage is not just about buildings; it includes biodiversity zones, sacred groves, oral history documentation, music, dance, and cultural landscapes,” he said. A dedicated department for archives and archaeology, empowered by legislation, is also under consideration.
The minister emphasised the importance of community involvement and research. “We want to enable public participation and support academic work, even at the PhD level. There is a role for society at large, from individuals to institutions, in documenting and preserving Goa’s heritage.”
