Panaji: The Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) held a mass meeting on Sunday to protest the large-scale felling of trees in the buffer zone of the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage site in Old Goa.
While the people claimed that the project is a “shopping mall”, the site’s board, allegedly from the government, mentions only “development of amenities” under the Centre’s Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive (PRASAD) scheme of the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India.
Peter Viegas, a prominent member of SOGAC alleged that the site falls within a 100-metre buffer zone, making construction “illegal”. He also said that cannonballs were discovered at the site and that any excavation must be done by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
“No such project can be allowed on this site. The presence of cannonballs shows its historical significance. If any excavation is necessary, it must be conducted by the ASI, adhering to the same rigorous standards they applied during the excavation at the Church of St. Augustine in the recent past,” he said. Speaking to reporters, Congress’ Elvis Gomes criticised the lack of a master plan for the project, stating that Old Goa’s heritage was under threat.
“There should have been a master plan, which the government has not provided until now,” he said. “Old Goa is a UNESCO World Heritage site and holds great importance. This shopping mall project is nothing but an attempt to destroy our heritage. We will not allow this.”
Gomes said that cannonballs and other historical artefacts were found during excavation near the ruins of the Five Wounds of Christ Church and called for an immediate halt to the project. “This is an archaeological and heritage-protected area, where such work cannot proceed without permission from the ASI as well as the Church authorities,” he said.
He also alleged that some of the excavated artefacts had been removed from the site. “They hold significant value in the international market,” said Gomes.
Fernandes also said that heavy machinery was being used in the construction process, including for building an internal road and digging over a meter deep. “A concealed road has been built from the rear side of the site to transport the excavated archaeological material,” she added.
Deputy sarpanch of Se Old Goa, Ambar Amonkar, said that the panchayat has not issued a construction license for the project.
He urged the SOGAC and individuals to file formal complaints before the panchayat assuring that the panchayat body would immediately issue a stop-work order.
