Keep licenses for projects near Mount Chapel on hold: Forum

OLD GOA

The Goa State Citizens Forum has demanded that licenses for projects near Our Lady of Mount Chapel at Old Goa be kept on hold till the heritage zone of the State monument is demarcated.

In a complaint, Forum Convenor Mariano Ferrao has stated that authorities must put on hold any further clearance of the project till the heritage zone is demarcated by the Archaeology Department.

The complaints have been lodged with the Archives & Archaeology Minister, Archaeology Department, TCP department and the Se Old Goa panchayat.

In the complaint, Ferrao has pointed out that a private party has undertaken the construction activity within the prohibited zone of the State monument, without waiting for the demarcation of the zone by the Archaeology Department.

“The construction is in total violation of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1978. Also, it has come to the notice that the party undertook the construction even before the demarcation of the protected zone was done by the Archaeology Department,” the complaint states while demanding that strict action be taken against the party concerned.

Further, the Forum has called for a joint inspection of the site in which all related departments like the State Archaeology, TCP, Se Old Goa panchayat should remain present to ascertain the ground reality.

The Forum has also urged that the Cathedral Chapter President Fr Alfred Vaz, the custodian of the monument, Save Old Goa Action Committee and the Forum be made party to the inspection.

“Till then, it is requested to put on hold any further clearance of the project by the Se Old Goa panchayat,” the complaint reads.

Copies of the complaint were also addressed to the Cathedral Chapter president Fr Alfred Vaz and Save Old Goa Action Committee president Fatima Pereira.