MAPUSA: Asserting that the State government was clueless on the inclusion of Goa’s heritage sites in the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ list prepared by the Centre, Cabinet Advisory Committee member and senior BJP leader Francis D’Souza said the Centre should have consulted the State government at least in the case of religious monuments.
“You cannot sit at the Centre and decide those things. Most of the monuments in Goa are of religious nature. They should not interfere with religious monuments because of sentiments involved in it,” D’Souza said
“Many of the Catholic monuments have become heritage sites now. That’s fair enough. But the Catholic Church is still operating them. Suddenly, a third party cannot come and interfere with it,” he continued.
He also said that religious institutions should be given first preference to take care of their monuments while corporate houses can be allowed to take over non-religious heritage sites.
The Union ministry of tourism has decided to adopt heritage sites in Goa under the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ scheme and allot it to some corporate houses.
Under the scheme, the listed heritage sites from Goa include the world-famous Basilica of Bom Jesus where the relics of St Francis Xavier are preserved, Aguada Fort and Old Goa churches.
D’Souza further said that Centre should allow the State government to take a call on certain issues.
“Everybody should be kept in the loop. The Centre should have taken the state government into confidence while preparing the heritage site list,” he said.
According to the senior BJP leader it appeared that nobody from the BJP in Goa knew about the list of the heritage sites in Goa.
“I came to know about it yesterday. May be the chief minister was aware of it. I don’t know,” he said to a query.
------------
State govt to get in
touch with Centre
MAPUSA: Francis D’Souza said the State government would have to get in touch with the Centre, on the issue of including Goa’s heritage sites in the ‘Adopt a Heritage’ list. “The State government will have to inform the Centre. If need be the Cabinet Advisory Committee will meet,” said D’Souza, when asked about the State government's future course of action.
