PANAJI
As the Opposition cornered the State government over the illegal construction work in buffer zone of UNESCO recognised world heritage site under Central scheme, Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte on Tuesday assured the House that the State will not go ahead with the PRASAD scheme till fresh consent is granted by the Church and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
Responding to the Calling Attention Motion, Khaunte said that no work will be undertaken for now pending fresh clearances.
Khaunte said that the Church authorities including Basilica and Archdiocese were taken into confidence while finalising the plan for a facilitation centre for tourists under PRASAD -- Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and spiritual Augmentation Drive scheme.
He said that the Tourism Department has already obtained permission from ASI, National Monument Authority, Town and Country Planning and Forest department. “However, we will now go for fresh nod from Church and ASI. The work at Old Goa amenity facilitation will commence only after that. Let the Church tell us that we don’t want further amenities there,” the Minister said.
BJP MLA Rajesh Faldesai and RGP MLA Viresh Borkar had moved a calling attention motion over the illegal construction work and large scale cutting of trees in buffer zone of UNESCO recognised world heritage site of old Goa to pave way for tourism project.
While Faldessai sounded satisfied with the Minister’s reply, the Opposition led by Borkar cornered Khaunte for undertaking work without a panchayat NOC. They claimed that the project, as alleged by the locals, is a Mall.
To which, Khaunte replied that misinformation has been spread about construction of the mall. “I have asked the police to investigate the root of the rumour about the mall,” he said.
He took a dig at the protesters stating, ‘If you want to construct the road, then you will not find even 50 people with you, but if you want to stop the road, you will get a crowd to support you. This sort of negative mentality is growing in Goa…we have to remember that we are not UP…Bihar”.
The Minister further explained that the works of Rs 300 crore were undertaken during the Exposition within and outside the buffer zone but there was no objection to those works during that time. “We are creating a facilitation centre to help tourists visiting Old Goa churches,” he added.
