Heritage sites in private hands okay, but with ‘caution’: TTAG

the goan I network
PANAJI
The Travel and Tourism Association of Goa has said that handing over heritage monuments to private parties for their upkeep, especially non-religious ones, should be encouraged as it will help maintain them. 
In a statement released to the media after a specially called meeting of the managing committee to discuss the issue, the TTAG has however cautioned that the government should adopt a transparent approach. 
The “adopt a monument scheme” idea of the central government by itself is a very good one. There is need to privatise the upkeep of heritage historical monuments all over India and even in Goa keeping in mind that we have national monuments and state-protected monuments. Goa needs to follow suit with respect to state-protected documents. The government in doing so needs to distinguish between religious monuments and the non-religious historical monuments,” the TTAG said. 
“As far as religious documents there is need to follow a consultative process between the respective government and the respective religious bodies,” the business collective has said. 
“There should be a transparent policy for selecting the corporate or private entity entrusted with such monuments. Profit should not be the motive and it should be purely a CSR exercise by the respective corporate house,” the TTAG said. 
The group which has often questioned the lack of state government initiative in the upkeep of ancient heritage monuments like forts etc. has also cautioned that the government should not give up any rights on ownership of the monuments or condone violations of the Ancient Monuments Act. 
“In no case should such a policy dilute the ownership of the State and in no case should it result in denying public access to the monuments and our heritage. Any decision by the respective governments should be within the four corners of the Ancient Monuments Act,” the TTAG said. 
“The State protected documents should be left to the State Government to decide, even though the TTAG felt that it is advisable for the State Government to follow the same policy for improvement of the upkeep of its monuments,” they added.