OLD GOA
It’s been around three months since the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) filed an RTI application with the Investment Promotion Board (IPB) to seek information on the eco-tourism project approved at Old Goa.
But on Tuesday, when the SOGAC members visited the IPB office, the information was not made available raising eyebrows over the reason behind hiding the vital information to the public.
Later speaking to reporters, SOGAC coordinator Peter Viegas informed that it was in October 2023 that they had filed RTI application seeking information on the eco-tourism project.
“But till date, we have not received information and today too, when we visited the IPB office we were not provided with the same,” Viegas informed while questioning why the same is hidden by the IPB.
“Earlier, we had filed over 17,000 objections against the project, and we were hoping that in the IPB meeting held in December last year, they would withdraw the project considering the amount of objections received from the public,” Viegas added.
Another speaker, Freddy Dias, demanded that the government withdraw the project and issued a warning that they will be forced to take stern action in the matter if the government fails to do so.
“The project is planned in the buffer zone of the State heritage monument, Chapel of Our Lady of Mount, and the area is a slopy area which will damage the monument,” Dias said.
Meanwhile, SOGAC said their agitation over the non-implementation of the process for a master plan for Old Goa is on track.
When questioned by the The Goan on the issue, SOGAC coordinator Viegas said they are planning the agitation as the government has failed to initiate the process of master plan for Old Goa.
However, another member said that they need public support for success of the agitation.
When asked why the SOGAC is not taking the help of the Church, Viegas said the Church is fully backing them on the issue.
“The Church is fully backing us. When we filed the objections to the eco-tourism project, that time too the Church backed us,” Viegas added.
SOGAC also informed that they have brought to the notice of Cumbarjua MLA on issues of master plan, eco-tourism project and ghost structures and that he has assured them that he would take up the same in the forthcoming Assembly.
However, the SOGAC members were not able to answer why a ruling MLA has to wait till the Assembly session to raise such crucial issues.
SOGAC President Fatima Pereira, secretary Milgrina, treasurer Hugo Gonsalves and others were also present.
