the goan I network
PANAJI
With Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) Girish Chodankar gunning for him on the development of heritage sites, Minister for Archives and Archaeology Vijay Sardesai on Sunday said he was totally ignorant of the correspondence made by the Director of Archives on the question of handing over of the heritage sites under the Adopt a heritage scheme.
Sardesai pointed out that no sooner reports stated that a number of heritage and religious sites in Goa have been included in a list for handing over to private players for development under the Adopt a Heritage site, he immediately decided to call a meeting of the stakeholders on Monday morning to take stock of the situation. “I did not call the Monday meeting an account of the statement made by the GPCC president. It was called on my own accord since I and my Goa Forward are very much concerned about our heritage,” he said.
The Minister pointed out that the government will take a firm stand on the issue after Monday’s meeting. “We strongly believe that our heritage is our Goemkarponn. Let me make it clear there cannot be any two questions on this count. I have called tomorrow’s meeting since I am serious about the issue,” he said.
Sardesai said those who have been invited for the Monday’s meeting at the Secretariat includes the Tourism Minister Babu Azgaonkar, Chief Secretary, ASI officials, representatives of the Church and others.
