PANAJI
Four months after taking a lead through a panel discussion with experts to draft State’s first ever ‘Heritage Conservation Policy’, the Goa government is yet to take a step ahead.
On the occasion of World Heritage Day on April 18, the Archaeology Department held a consultation with experts like archaeologists and historians to draft the policy, the inputs which are yet to be taken into consideration.
Goa has got 51 notified structures under the State Archaeology Department and close to 450 additional monuments and structures with immense heritage value, however, there is no policy document in place to conserve and preserve these architectural monuments. There are 22 structures under the Archaeological Survey of India.
The issue had recently rocked the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly, with Minister for Archaeology Subhash Faldesai assuring to finalise the policy by December, this year. He had said that the policy will cover identification, restoration and maintenance of the heritage structures including homes.
“Yes, we had a panel discussion on World Heritage Day and got several inputs. However, so far no work has commenced on the policy,” Director of Archaeology Nilesh Fal Desai told The Goan.
The panel comprised of Principal of the Goa College of Architecture Dr Ashish K Rege, assistant professor DD Kosambi School of Social Sciences and Behavioural Studies, Goa University Dr Seema Risbud, professor at the Civil Engineering Department of Goa Engineering College Dr Purnanand Savoiker, Architect Abhijit Sadhale and archaeologist Sawani Shetye.
According to sources, the panel had emphasised on immediate need for Heritage Conservation and Restoration Policy along with stringent Rules and Legislations to protect Goa’s heritage or archaeology. They also spoke about exposure to traditional medicine as part of heritage along with views on public private partnership (PPP) model in conservation and restoration.
It was way back in 2018, then Minister Vijai Sardesai had taken a lead to draft a Heritage Policy. However, with him being shunted out of power in early 2019, the policy didn’t see the light of the day.
The Charles Correa Foundation has undertaken documentation of the heritage structures and has so far done grading of over 900 such structures within the capital city.
In 2010, the Rajiv Yaduvanshi Committee had identified 434 additional monuments and structures with immense heritage value, including 107 Catholic churches and 17 temples, across the State; however the department has no record of the committee findings.
