PANAJI
Almost six months after assuring the State Legislative Assembly to draft a Heritage Policy for Goa within a year, the State government has finally taken a step in that direction. A 15-member monitoring committee for drafting Heritage Policy has been constituted, which has to submit its report within six months.
The Committee headed by the Archaeology department Secretary, has to draft the policy in consultation with experts and the general public by seeking their inputs. The committee has to also scrutinise the draft policy before submitting it to the government for approval.
Sources informed that the committee has to submit the draft policy within six months, so that the government can scrutinize it and finalize the policy thereafter. “The Minister has already assured on the Floor of the House to finalize the policy within a year. We have to work as per that deadline,” sources said referring to the Minister Subhash Faldesai commitment to the House in July.
According to the government, there are 51 monuments of archaeological importance protected under the 'State list' while another 21 are under the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI). In addition, some 400 private heritage buildings are listed under the Town and Country Planning Act.
Apart from the government representatives, the Committee also comprises of official of Goa Heritage Action Group, Environmentalist and expert Rajendra Kerkar, Conservation Architect Ketak Nachinolkar, Folklorist Dr Pandurang Phal Desai and expert Sanjeev Sardesai.
On the occasion of World Heritage Day on April 18, the Archaeology Department held a consultation with the experts like archaeologists and historians to draft the policy, the inputs that would be placed before the monitoring committee now.
The issue had rocked the Monsoon Session of the State Assembly, wherein the Minister had said that the policy will cover identification, restoration and maintenance of the heritage structures including homes.
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.
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.
