OLD GOA
Old Goa local Glen Cabral stopped the construction of a road in a private property near the heritage zone of Our Lady of Mount Chapel on Tuesday.
A JCB machine used for the road construction was handed over to the Old Goa police as Cabral said that the work could not be undertaken within the heritage zone of the Chapel. Sources said that the JCB was later released by the police.
Speaking to The Goan, Cabral informed that he observed that the road construction was being undertaken with the help of a JCB machine. “There was no board installed to display the permission involved for the activity and it was also within the heritage zone of the Monte Chapel, which is a State monument,” Cabral said while stating that he first complained to the Old Goa police and handed over the JCB to them.
“Later, I complained about the activity to the Director, Department of Archaeology urging to take action in the matter,” Cabral stated while adding that a copy was also made to the Se Old Goa panchayat.
Though the one undertaking the work informed that he has TCP approval for the project, Cabral informed that the file was yet to be approved by the Se Old Goa panchayat. “When I inquired with the panchayat, I was informed that the file has not been approved,” Cabral stated.
Sources informed The Goan that the file has been inwarded in the panchayat and the same will be taken up at the fortnightly meeting, which is scheduled to be held next week. Cabral then questioned how the work was commenced without approval from the local panchayat even as the project proponent claimed that it was only a clearing activity for demarcating the heritage zone from the chapel.
Cabral further informed that the Cathedral Chapel, which is the custodian of the Monte Chapel, will file separate objections against the activity.
Meanwhile, activists Mariano Ferrao and John Mascarenhas who backed Cabral in opposing the road construction have questioned the timing of the activity. “Such clandestine activity very close to the State monument and that too during the Holy Week is objectionable,” the activists said, pledging to lend their support against the activity in the future as well.
