Members of the Save Old Goa Action Committee after submitting petition to the Chief Town Planner demanding Master Plan for Old Goa and scrapping of unwanted and illegal projects within heritage zones, on Friday. Photo Manuel Vaz
THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has demanded that a Master Plan for Old Goa be put in place before the upcoming Exposition so that the UNESCO heritage sites are preserved for posterity.
SOGAC has further demanded scrapping of various unwanted projects planned in Old Goa, scrapping of land conversions, scrapping of farmhouses, among others.
In this regard, SOGAC has petitioned Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Exposition Committee Chairman, TCP Minister, Chief Town Planner and the Old Goa panchayat on Friday.
Speaking to reporters, SOGAC member Peter Viegas said various unwanted projects like four farmhouses are approved by the TCP within the buffer zone of Monte Chapel.
"Also, land conversion is notified near the Monte Chapel despite the area being an orchard," Viegas informed while adding that other projects like chocolate exhibition centre, heritage interpretation centre, garbage treatment plant, etc. are in the pipeline.
"Further, there are various illegal projects like the bungalow near St Cajetan Church, illegal construction of road touching the wall of St Francis Xavier Chapel, 21 ghost house numbers, etc which are a threat to the heritage monuments of Old Goa," Viegas said and demanded that all such unwanted projects need to be scrapped if Old Goa is to retain its world heritage status.
"Therefore, we demand that the government put into motion a Heritage Master Plan with clear demarcation of buffer zones around the world, national and state monuments so that unwanted and illegal projects do not come up," Viegas added.
He then demanded that the Master Plan should be in place before the Exposition of the Sacred Relics of St Francis Xavier takes place.
SOGAC president Fatima Pereira, secretary Milagrina Couto and other members were also present.
