OLD GOAThe Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) has given the government a deadline of January next year to initiate the process of a master plan for Old Goa failing which it has threatened to launch a statewide agitation on the issue.
Addressing reporters at Azad Maidan, Panaji, on Saturday, SOGAC coordinator Peter Viegas said that Old Goa is the only place with world heritage sites.
“But, till date, there is no master plan for this historic place. Also, the buffer zones of protected and regulated I and II have not been demarcated in the Regional Plan,” Viegas informed.
“So, we are demanding that the government should prepared the master plan for Old Goa before the exposition of the relics of St Francis Xavier in 2024,” he added.
He further stated that projects like eco-tourism resort, helipad, garbage treatment plant, heritage interpretation centre, etc are being initiated in Old Goa which does not augur well for such a historic place.
“Further, there are many illegal constructions mushrooming in and around the world heritage sites,” Viegas stated while adding that if there is no regulation of such activities then there is a possibility of Old Goa losing its world heritage status.
SOGAC secretary Freddy Dias said that there is a need to demarcate the buffer zones to ensure illegalities do not mushroom.
“So, we are demanding that the government initiate the process of preparing a master plan for Old Goa and we are giving time till January for the same,” Dias stated while adding that in case the government fails then a statewide agitation will be launched against the government.
SOGAC president Fatima Pereira, Jacqueline Fernandes and Clara were also present.
