OLD GOA
The committee of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Mount in Old Goa has filed its objection to the Investment Promotion Board’s eco-tourism project which is in very close proximity of the heritage monument.
The objection has been submitted to the Director of Industries, Trade and Commerce, on Thursday, with committee members Glen Cabral, Shamera Fernandes, Antonieta Fernandes and Adv. Lucia Fernandes signing the same.
In the letter, it has been pointed out that the approved project is within the 100 metres no-development zone of the State protected heritage site.
“As you are aware, the entire survey no 86 is notified as a protected monument and the buffer zone starts from the boundary of the protected area,” the objection letter states while further stating that nowhere in the details put up for public scrutiny is this information presented.
“This is nothing short of obscuring the facts in order to ease passage of this controversial project,” the objection letter states.
Further, it has been mentioned that around 30% of the site is a no-development zone while the remainder of the property has a significant slope between 10 to 20 degrees.
Concerns have been further raised over the serious impact the project would have on the heritage monument due to the hill cutting and land-filling activities that would be needed for the project.
It has also been pointed out that there is insufficient access to the proposed site as the only access is an 8-metre road with the carriageway ranging between 5 and 6 metres.
“When coupled with the steady footfall to the protected monument and the proposed tourism use on the site, there will be significant congestion on the access,” the objection letter further reads.
Pointing to the zoning of the property as natural cover area in RP-2021, the committee members have expressed fears over any development leading to human animal conflict as the area is a densely vegetated area with variety species of flora and fauna.
Finally, the committee members have chided the IPB for not considering the above-mentioned facts at the time of assessing the proposal.
The members have further prayed that the IPB take cognisance of the objections raised and declare that the project as not feasible in the area.
