OLD GOA
Hundreds of people gathered in Old Goa on Sunday to oppose the heritage interpretation centre under PRASAD scheme, the work for which has begun since the last few days.
A call to oppose the project was given by the Save Old Goa Action Committee (SOGAC) as they pointed out that the project comes within the protected zone of the UNESCO monuments and if allowed would prove detrimental to the heritage value of the former capital city.
Various speakers pointed out that the area where the project is planned is itself a heritage area as it used to be the site where the arsenal existed.
"During the excavation that was undertaken for the project, several canon balls were found but the irony is that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) did not take note of the same despite their office being located nearby," said former bureaucrat Elvis Gomes while stating that the ASI was duty bound to immediately take steps to take possession of the canon balls and immediately stop any excavation activity.
"Whenever there is an archaeological find the ASI should have stopped the work which sadly did not happen," Gomes informed.
"Further the area comes under prohibited zone and as such no development can be allowed," Gomes added.
He then reiterated his demand that Old Goa needs a Master Plan which successive governments have failed to put in place.
"If Old Goa had a Master Plan then people would not have to hit the streets for opposing projects detrimental to the heritage of Old Goa," Gomes opined.
Fr Bolmax Pereira targeted the BJP government for finishing Goa under the name of development.
"Everywhere we see such types of development taking place which are detrimental for Goa and Goans," Fr Pereira said and urged that Goans have to remain alert to the divisive policy of the government under the guise of which such destruction is taking place.
Activist Swapnesh Sherlekar urged Goans to file complaint with the authorities like the Se Old Goa panchayat to get the work stopped.
"The immediate target is to get stop work notice from the panchayat. The second target is to seek intervention of the ASI as archaeological stuff has been found," Sherlekar stated and added that the project will be stopped only after all the permissions granted have been scrapped.
Sherlekar then urged the locals to question local MLA Rajesh Faldessai as to what he is doing to oppose the project when he is a member of the TCP Board.
"Also, a team has to be put in place to constantly follow up on the issue," he added and assured all support from his team, including legal to get the project scrapped.
Meanwhile, a signature campaign was undertaken against the project to submit the same to the relevant authorities.
The people then went around the project site to acclimatise themselves about the importance of the area and also saw how the cannon balls are left lying around, trees been cut and excavation done.
