NT Reporter
Panaji
The Save Old Goa Action Committee has raised concerns over safety arrangements and heritage protection during the ongoing feast and novenas of St Francis Xavier.
In a letter submitted to the Old Goa police and fire stations and the North Goa Collector, the committee said a large number of stalls and entertainment areas, including a giant wheel, have been placed in a manner that could create problems as thousands of pilgrims and visitors attend the novenas and feast fair.
It said many stalls are touching each other over long stretches with no exit corridors, while the entry and exit spaces are too narrow for emergency vehicles such as fire brigade trucks and ambulances. The committee said no portable fire extinguishers are visible in the area, raising fears that a short circuit or fire could quickly trigger a stampede.
Coordinator Peter Viegas said there is hardly any space left for people proceeding for Mass during the novenas due to the excessive number of stalls allotted for the fair. He said that in the event of a fire, accident or any other emergency, no vehicle would be able to enter.
Viegas said a detailed master plan is needed for Old Goa and reminded authorities that the site is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. He said the area is not meant for a police station, garbage treatment plant, interpretation centre, helipad or similar projects, adding that the focus should be on protecting Old Goa rather than turning it into a commercial zone. Committee member Jacqueline Fernandes said they oppose the construction of a third floor on the Old Goa police station building.
She said they support the need for a police station but a multi-storey structure is not acceptable in a heritage zone.
