MARGAO
Welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement hailing St Francis Xavier as Goencho Saib, the Save Old-Goa Action Committee has urged Chief Minister Pramod Sawant to prepare a Master Plan to save the World Heritage site from encroachments and destruction.
In fact, Committee Coordinator Peter Viegas has made a fervent plea to the Chief Minister and the MLAs to discuss the issue on the last day of the ongoing Assembly session to set in motion the proposal towards the preparation of a Master Plan for Old Goa.
Addressing the media, Peter said the committee is glad to know that Prime Minister hailed St Francis Xavier as Goencho Saib at the Margao mega meeting on February 6. Saying the Old Goa UNESCO world heritage site has been a pride of Goa, Peter, however, lamented there has been rampant illegal and unplanned projects mushrooming at the site over the years.
He cited the instance of the illegal bungalow, besides the floating jetties proposed at the place under the Sagarmala project, the proposed Heritage Interpretation Centre, Garbage Plant (Air & water Pollution), Helipad (Sound Pollution), a Chocolate Exhibition Centre, IPB Laterite Resort and many more illegal constructions at the site.
“We have seen many religious sites across India have been protected and preserved by a plan. The Old Goa heritage should also be protected in the same way through a just Master Plan,’ he said, pointed out that great personalities and world Leaders, including Prime Ministers, Presidents, G-20 and CHOGM delegates, Pope John Paul II and several high dignitaries have been left amazed by the Old-Goa Heritage sites and continue to do so.
